BB King honored in Sweden

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (Blues Online Magazine) - Sweden's prestigious Polar Music Prize was on Monday [24 May] presented to B. B. King for his contribution to the blues and to Gyorgy Ligeti for his innovations in classical music.

BB King, being honored for his role in spreading the blues, the forerunner of modern popular music, and his significant contribution to the genre, proudly accepted his prize from Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf at the Stockholm Concert Hall, which is also where the Nobel Prize ceremony takes place.
"I'm a little nervous. I have never met a king before. But I'm also grateful, so grateful. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart," the 78-year-old American blues artist said according to Swedish news agency TT.
Swedish Queen Silvia and Crown Princess Victoria were also at the ceremony.

The Polar Music Prize was founded in 1989 by the late Stig Anderson, the publisher, lyricist and manager of iconic Swedish pop group ABBA.
In addition to the prize, King received a check for one million kronor (US$131,000; 110,000 euros).

Among past winners are ex-Beatle Paul McCartney, American jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie, Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, British pop musician Elton John, French classical conductor and composer Pierre Boulez, and American popular and folk musicians Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder and Bob Dylan.
Jazz pianist Keith Jarrett won the award last year.