Thursday, May 22, 2014

Jerry Dammers Receives the Ivor Novello Inspiration Award for "Free Nelson Mandela"

The Coventry Telegraph and other media outlets in the UK are reporting that Jerry Dammers has been awarded the Ivor Novello Inspiration Award in recognition of his incredible protest song "Free Nelson Mandela," which was recorded and released by The Special AKA in 1984. This award comes just weeks after Dammers received the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo by the South African government "for outstanding work benefiting the country"--for his anti-aparthied activism with the UK branch of Artists Against Apartheid and for penning what became a joyous ANC anthem of protest and then celebration upon Nelson Mandela's release from jail in 1990.

According to the Coventry Telegraph, "The annual awards, known as The Ivors, are presented by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors and are highly prized because they are voted for by songwriters and composers."

Former Clash/BAD guitarist/songwriter/singer Mick Jones presented Dammers will his award and dubbed him the "Tsar of Ska."

1 comment:

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