NEWS – Patti Smith Awarded Polar Music Prize

Punk icon Patti Smith has been awarded this year’s Polar Music Prize along side string quartet Kronos Quartet. The sixty-four year old singer, who first started out performing at the legendary CBGB in the mid-1970s, received the award from King Carl XVI Gustaf on Tuesday August 30th at a ceremony held in Stockholm, Sweden. Both Smith and the Kronos Quartet were each awarded a prize to the value of 1 million kronor, which roughly translates as $159,000.

According to the Washington Post; “A moved Smith said she was “humbled and inspired” to receive the award. She thanked her family and band members and appealed to the audience to “turn their hearts and minds and resources” toward the famine in Africa… The Polar Music Prize is typically shared each year by a pop artist and a classical musician. It was founded by the manager of Sweden’s legendary pop group ABBA, Stig Anderson, in 1989… Previous laureates include Pink Floyd, Joni Mitchell, Bjork and Sir Paul McCartney.”

Smith released her memoirs Just Kids last year.