Paul McCartney, Liza Minnelli win Silver Clef awards

Posted by elena On Saturday, July 2nd 2011 in Entertainment

Singer and actress Liza Minnelli won the Silver Clef Icon Award on Thursday during a ceremony in London. Other winners of the night included Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney, former Eurythmics singer Annie Lennox, indie rock band Arcade Fire, 70s rockers Status Quo, and London rapper Tinie Tempah.

The Silver Clef awards are organised by Nordoff Robbins, a UK charity for music therapy, supported by many famous musicians. The award ceremony took place on Thursday, 30 June, at the London Hilton hotel. When accepting her icon award, Minnelli praised the charity and added that she believed in the healing powers of music and lyrics.

A total of ten awards were given out during the ceremony, which also served as a charity event. Sir Paul McCartney won the award for best live act, which was for the first time voted on by the public. He was unable to attend the ceremony, but said that his win was "phenomenal news". The former Beatles superstar, one of the richest musicians in the world, has played concerts all over the world during recent years and is set to begin a tour of the United States on 15 July.

Former Eurythmics singer Annie Lennox received the O2 Silver Clef Award, in honour of her contribution to British music. British rock band Satus Quo, who had their biggest hits in the 70s, picked up the lifetime achievement award. English tenor Alfie Boe won the classical award, while the international award went to Swedish House Mafia, a trio of Stockholm-based DJs. The award for best British band went to Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro, while London rapper Tinie Tempah won the prize for best newcomer. Canadian band Arcade Fire, whose 2010 release "The Suburbs" won the album of the year Grammy in February, received the Ambassadors of Rock award. Pop group McFly picked up the digital innovation award.

The Silver Clef Awards are an annual UK event, with a double purpose: to reward artists for their contribution to British music and to raise funds for the Nordoff Robbins Centre for Music Therapy. The first ceremony took place in 1976. Past winners of Silver Clef Awards include Pink Floyd, Elton John, Eric Clapton, The Who, Aerosmith, Jon Bon Jovi, Neil Young, and several other big names. In 2010, Dame Vera Lynn was the winner of the Icon Award, while the Silver Clef Award went to rock band Muse.