Van Morrison knighted

Singer, songwriter and saxophonist Van Morrison OBE has now been knighted in the Queen’s 2015 Birthday Honours list. The honour is given for “services to the music industry and to tourism in Northern Ireland.” He now becomes Sir George Ivan Morrison.

Later this year he plays a series of concerts to celebrate his 70th birthday, as well as a date at Blenheim Palace on June 25th with Gregory Porter and closing this year’s Love Supreme Festival on Sunday July 5th.

Rising from the streets of Belfast Van Morrison became one of Britain’s most recognisable voices, influenced by the jazz and blues in his father’s record collection, with his own imprint fusing soul, rock, folk, blues and jazz. His appeal has been enduring throughout his career, hand in hand with commercial success. Never a man of many words for the media during his personal life he has not given a personal reaction to his honour, preferring instead to let his music do the talking.

On Thursday June 18th Morrison will also become the recipient of this year’s Johnny Mercer Award, awarded by the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, in New York.

Also honoured this year is Claire Whitaker, Director of the prolific music and concert producers Serious. Claire receives an OBE for services to jazz.