FRANCIS FORD
COPPOLA, GRATEFUL DEAD, BONNIE RAITT, ARTURO
SANDOVAL, AND THE APOLLO
AMERICA TO CELEBRATE HONOREES' LIFETIME
ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENTS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2024
CBS to broadcast Kennedy Center Honors on
Monday, December 23
WASHINGTON, July 18,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The John F. Kennedy Center for
the Performing Arts today announced the selection of five Honorees
who will receive the 47th Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime
artistic achievements. Recipients to be honored at the annual
national celebration of the arts in Washington, D.C. this December are: acclaimed
director and filmmaker Francis Ford
Coppola; legendary American rock band the Grateful
Dead (Mickey Hart,
Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, Bobby
Weir); blues rock singer-songwriter and guitarist
Bonnie Raitt; jazz trumpeter,
pianist, and composer Arturo
Sandoval; and The Apollo, which will receive a
special Honors as an iconic American institution. Done+Dusted are
Executive Producers of the 47th annual Kennedy Center Honors, which
airs on the CBS Television Network for the 47th year and will
stream on Paramount+*.
![The 2024 Kennedy Center Honorees The 2024 Kennedy Center Honorees](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2464465/Honoree_Photos.jpg)
"The Kennedy Center Honors recognizes artists who have made an
extraordinary impact on the cultural life of our nation and
continue to have an immeasurable influence on new generations,"
stated Kennedy Center Chairman David M.
Rubenstein. "A brilliant and masterful storyteller with an
unrelenting innovative spirit, Francis
Ford Coppola's films have become embedded in the very
idea of American culture; a social and cultural phenomenon since
1965, the Grateful Dead's music has never stopped being a
true American original, while inspiring a fan culture like no
other; Bonnie Raitt has made
us love her again and again with her inimitable voice, slide
guitar, and endless musical range encompassing blues, R&B,
country rock, and folk; 'an ambassador of both music and humanity,'
Arturo
Sandoval transcended literal borders coming from
Cuba 30-plus years ago and today
continues to bridge cultures with his intoxicating blend of Afro
Cuban rhythms and modern jazz; and on its 90th anniversary, The
Apollo, one of the most consequential, influential institutions
in history, has elevated the voices of Black entertainment in
New York City, nationally, and
around the world, and launched the careers of legions of
artists."
"Our Honorees this year have each played an invaluable,
pioneering role in developing American culture—not with one act of
art but with their decades-long devotion to pushing creative
boundaries," said Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter. "In December, we are thrilled
to pay special tribute to New York
City's renowned Apollo Theater on its 90th anniversary.
Throughout its history, The Apollo has guided us and the world
forward by discovering and nurturing raw talent, molding a unique
cultural identity that still defines American culture today. Across
Honors weekend, artists with special connections to The Apollo will
serve as ambassadors of the institution's legacy."
Throughout its 46-year history, the annual Honors Gala has
become the highlight of the Washington cultural and society calendar. On
Sunday, December 8, in a
star-studded celebration on the Kennedy Center Opera House stage,
the 47th class of Kennedy Center Honorees will be saluted by
today's leading performers from New
York, Hollywood, and the
arts capitals of the world. Seated in the Box Tier of the iconic
Kennedy Center Opera House, the Honorees will accept the
recognition and gratitude of their peers through performances and
tributes. The 47th Kennedy Center Honors Gala concludes with a
post-performance party in the Grand Foyer.
The Kennedy Center Honors recognizes and celebrates individuals
whose unique contributions have shaped the way we see
ourselves, each other, and our
world. Recipients have each had an impact on the
rich tapestry of American life and culture through the
performing arts. Whether in music, dance, theater, opera,
motion pictures, or television, each Kennedy Center
Honoree has a unique place in the national consciousness and
their influence has inspired audiences from all walks of
life.
Done+Dusted, a production company with a reputation for creating
and capturing the moments that make headlines and shape culture,
return to produce the event for a third year, in association with
ROK Productions. The event will be Executive Produced by David
Jammy and Elizabeth Kelly, and this
year joined by Jack Sussman. The
show will be directed by Alex
Rudzinski.
Done+Dusted (D+D) is a multi-award-winning global entertainment
group with offices in Los Angeles,
London, and Abu Dhabi. The preeminent producer of live
television events in the world, D+D has produced the previous five
Mark Twain Prize shows at the Kennedy Center, and has reimagined
and reinvigorated the country's top recognition for humor,
resulting in an Emmy®-nominated tent-pole on the Kennedy Center
calendar.
CBS is the Exclusive Sponsor of the Kennedy Center Honors.
Boeing is the Exclusive Underwriter of the Kennedy Center Honors
Gala.
Delta Air Lines is the Official Airline of the Kennedy Center
Honors.
Stephen and Christine Schwarzman are
the Honors Gala Chairs.
The Kennedy Center Honors Founding Producer is George Stevens, Jr.
The Honoree selection process includes solicitation of
recommendations from former Honorees, the artistic community, the
Kennedy Center Board of Trustees, and the general public. This
year's selected Honorees were chosen based on the recommendation of
the Center's Special Honors Advisory Committee, which is chaired by
David Bohnett and includes past
Honors recipients and distinguished artists Gloria Estefan, Sally
Field, Renée Fleming, Herbie
Hancock, Judith Jamison,
Lionel Richie, and John Williams, as well as David M. Rubenstein, Deborah F. Rutter, Bryan
Lourd, Cappy McGarr, Shonda
Rhimes, and Daryl Roth. These
individuals play a critical role in the evaluation and selection
process, and the Kennedy Center is indebted to them for their
involvement.
Each year, Honorees are confirmed by the Executive
Committee of the Center's Board of Trustees. The Honors are
not designated by art form or category of artistic achievement;
over the years, the selection process has produced balance among
the various arts and artistic disciplines.
*Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers will have access to stream
live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service
as well as on demand in the United
States. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the
option to stream live, but will have access to on-demand the day
after the special airs in the U.S. only.
Honoree Headshots here
Honoree Bios here
Honoree Statements here
47TH KENNEDY CENTER HONOREE STATEMENTS
"I consider myself very fortunate to have been able to
collaborate with great artists and wonderful people throughout my
career, and I have never stopped learning. There is no greater
honor than to be included along with those who inspired me, who I
looked up to, and who gave me encouragement when times were dim. I
am grateful to the Kennedy Center, my beloved colleagues, to those
who equate beauty and truth, and to all the children of the
world."
—Francis Ford Coppola
"It goes without saying that the Kennedy Center Honors
represents the highest of reaches for artistic achievement. To be
recognized alongside the artists who have in the past received this
honor is beyond humbling. The Grateful Dead has always been about
community, creativity, and exploration in music and presentation.
We've always felt that the music we make embodies and imparts
something beyond the notes and phrases being played—and that is
something we are privileged to share with all who are drawn to what
we do—so it also must be said that our music belongs as much to our
fans, the Dead Heads, as it does to us. This honor, then, is as
much theirs as ours.
"From our earliest days in San
Francisco and as far as our tours have taken us, it has been
and still is an incredible ride. We've had the opportunity to play
with many talented musicians, interact with many gifted people—and
to be part of something much larger than ourselves. Our music
has always been about exploration and breaking through or finding
our way around barriers, not just musically but also in bringing
people together. The energy, the love, the connection and
sharing—once again, that's what it's all about. As we enter
our 60th year of the Grateful Dead's journey in 2025, we're
beyond grateful for this recognition and for the journey we are on
together. This honor reminds us of all those moments and the people
who helped us along the way.
"Thank you, Kennedy Center, and to all the folks who had a hand
in bringing us here, for this incredible honor."
—Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil
Lesh & Bobby Weir of
the Grateful Dead
"I am deeply honored and thrilled to have been chosen to receive
one of this year's Kennedy Center Honors. I have long been an
admirer of the awards and have been so blessed to be able to
participate in several shows honoring others. There is no higher
level of esteem nor as delightful a celebration and I want to
extend my sincere thanks to all who have chosen me to receive this
honor. I look forward to the upcoming ceremony and festivities,
which I know will be one of my life's peak experiences."
—Bonnie Raitt
"I am profoundly humbled and deeply honored to be selected as a
recipient of the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors. This
recognition is an extraordinary milestone in my career and a
testament to the support and encouragement I have received from my
family, friends, colleagues, and fans. Throughout my journey, I
have strived to create, perform, and inspire with passion and
integrity. Being acknowledged by such an esteemed institution
validates my efforts and motivates me to continue pushing the
boundaries of my art. I am incredibly grateful to the Kennedy
Center for this honor, and I look forward to contributing further
to the vibrant cultural tapestry that the Center celebrates and
nurtures. Thank you once again for this incredible honor."
—Arturo
Sandoval
"We are thrilled to be the first organization honored in the
history of the Kennedy Center Awards, emphasizing The Apollo's
impact on the past, present, and future of American culture and the
performing arts. From the longest-running talent show in America
with Amateur Night at The Apollo, which launched the careers of
icons like Ella Fitzgerald and
Lauryn Hill, to performances from
beloved legends like Smokey Robinson
and Lil' Kim and today's biggest stars like Drake, The Apollo has
always been a home for artists to create and a home for audiences
to see incredible music and art from legendary artists."
—Michelle Ebanks,
President & CEO, on behalf of The Apollo
ABOUT THE 47TH KENNEDY CENTER
HONOREES
Francis Ford Coppola
(director, producer, filmmaker)
Francis Ford Coppola is one of the most
influential and acclaimed filmmakers of our time—a five-time
Academy Award®–winning director, writer, and producer. Born in
Detroit, Michigan in 1939, he grew
up in Queens, New York. When
paralyzed by polio at nine years old and bedridden for a year, he
found solace in television and a toy 16mm movie projector, which
developed into an interest in storytelling. He was soon writing
short stories and plays and went on to study theater at Hofstra
College, and then film at UCLA. At
UCLA, he won the coveted Samuel Goldwyn
Writing Award for his screenplay Pilma Pilma, which gave him
the opportunity to be hired by Seven Arts as a screenwriter, his
initiation into the film business.
In 1969, Coppola co-founded the pioneering film company American
Zoetrope with fellow filmmaker George
Lucas, which has initiated and nourished the careers of many
prolific directors and actors. American Zoetrope-produced films
have received 16 Academy Awards® and 70 nominations, with four
included in the American Film Institute's top 100 American
films.
In 1970, Coppola won his first Oscar®, for Best
Original Screenplay for Patton. That decade he would go on
to write, direct, and/or produce The Godfather, The
Godfather Part II, American Graffiti, The
Conversation, and Apocalypse Now, resulting in two
Cannes Palme d'Or Awards, 12 Academy Award® nominations, and
five Academy Awards®, making the period arguably the most
successful decade any filmmaker has ever had. In 2010, he received
the Academy's prestigious Irving G.
Thalberg Memorial Award. As a writer, director, producer,
and technological pioneer, Coppola has created a body of work that
has helped shape contemporary American cinema.
In addition to his prolific film career, Coppola has been
producing wine for over 45 years at his Napa Valley winery, has luxury resorts in
Central America, Argentina, and Italy, and runs an award-winning short story
magazine, Zoetrope: All-Story.
Recent Kennedy Center history: Francis Ford Coppola appeared in the Kennedy
Center Honors tribute for Martin
Scorsese in 2007; as one of two distributors that restored
the original film, Coppola's presentation of Abel Gance's reconstructed epic film
masterpiece, Napoleon, was performed live by the Kennedy
Center Opera House Orchestra in February
1982 at the Kennedy Center Opera House. The score was
conducted by Carmine Coppola, its
composer, and organist Dennis James
joined as part of these performances.
The Grateful Dead (rock band)
The Grateful Dead is a
social and musical phenomenon that grew into a genuine American
treasure. Formed as a quintet in California in 1965, the Grateful Dead became
as much a folktale as the story from which they drew their name.
Fusing rock and roll, folk, and jazz with avant-garde, visual, and
literary traditions—and virtually inventing a new way to play music
in the process—they became one of the most popular, enduring, and
influential bands in American history.
In 1965, an entire generation was linked together by common
ideals, gathering by the hundreds and thousands. This movement
created a seamless connection between the band and its fans, known
as Dead Heads, who followed the band not because it was part of
popular culture but because it was a true counterculture that
exists to this day—one that earnestly believes in the value of its
beliefs. By 1995, the Grateful Dead had attracted the most
concertgoers in the history of the music business and today remains
one of the all-time leaders in concert ticket sales. They created
an unparalleled original songbook through 30 years of recording and
touring, never playing the same setlist twice (except that once),
making their musical legacy unfathomably rich, spread across a
combined body of live and studio recordings.
Today, the connection between the band and its fans is as strong
as ever. The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of
Fame in 1994 and received a Grammy® Lifetime Achievement Award in
2007. Their final tally of 2,318 total concerts remains a world
record. In 2024, the Grateful Dead celebrated their 59th Top 40
album on the Billboard chart, a feat no other artist has
achieved.
Emerging as a vessel for a vibrant global counterculture, the
Grateful Dead created an artistic ecosystem all their own,
transforming American music and arguably even America itself. Their
influence on music and culture has been profound, and even after
Jerry Garcia's death in 1995, the
band's legacy has endured. Surviving members have continued to
perform in various configurations ensuring that the music and
spirit of the Grateful Dead live on.
Recent Kennedy Center history: Mickey Hart's Drum Circle appeared as part of
the Center's 2018 Sound Health: Music and the Mind initiative;
Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros featuring The Wolfpack performed with
the National Symphony Orchestra in October 2022.
Bonnie Raitt (singer,
songwriter, guitarist)
Bonnie
Raitt is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist whose unique
style blends blues, R&B, rock, and pop. After 20 years as a
cult favorite, she broke through to the top in the early '90s with
her Grammy Award®–winning albums Nick of Time and Luck of
the Draw, which featured hits, "Something To Talk About" and "I
Can't Make You Love Me," among others. The 13-time
Grammy® winner was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of
Fame in 2000, and Rolling Stone named the slide guitar ace
one of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and one of the
"100 Greatest Singers of All Time."
2023 kicked off with Raitt earning three Grammy Awards® at the
65th Annual ceremony: Song of the Year and Best American Roots Song
for the title track of her most recent album Just Like That…
and Best Americana Performance for "Made Up Mind." Raitt was also
honored with the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award in
the year prior. Raitt has been on tour for most of 2023 and 2024
with stops in the U.S., Australia,
the U.K., Ireland, and
Canada.
2022 was an incredible year for Raitt who had a 75-date
headlining U.S. tour; released her critically acclaimed, 21st album
Just Like That… on her independent label, Redwing Records;
received the Icon Award at the 2022's Billboard Women In Music
Awards; and saw her breakthrough album, Nick of Time, added
to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry. Just
Like That… was #1 on six Billboard charts the week of release
and was perched at #1 on the Americana Radio Album Chart for 10
consecutive weeks. The album's first single, "Made Up Mind,"
remained in the top three spots on the Americana Radio Singles
Chart for 17 weeks.
As known for her lifelong commitment to social activism as she
is for her music, Raitt has long been involved with the
environmental movement, performing concerts around oil, nuclear
power, mining, water, and forest protection since the mid-70s. She
was a founding member of MUSE (Musicians United for Safe Energy),
which produced the historic concerts, album and film all known as
No Nukes as well as a founding member of The Rhythm and
Blues Foundation, which works for royalty reform and recognition of
generations of pioneer R&B artists. She continues to work on
safe energy issues in addition to environmental protection, social
justice, Native American and human rights, artists' rights, and
music education.
Recent Kennedy Center history: Bonnie Raitt made cast appearances for Kennedy
Center Honors tributes for Mavis
Staples (2016) and Buddy Guy
(2012).
Arturo Sandoval (jazz
trumpeter, pianist, composer)
Arturo
Sandoval is one of the most brilliant, multifaceted, and
renowned musicians of our time. Although he is an acknowledged
virtuoso of jazz trumpet and flugelhorn, he is just as dynamic and
vivacious on the piano, timbales, vocals, and keyboard. He delights
in presenting a diverse and exhilarating show featuring Afro-Cuban
jazz, be bop, straight ahead jazz, and so much more.
Sandoval is of the greatest trumpet players in the world due to
his exceptional technical skills, virtuosic performances, and
profound musicality. He possesses a remarkable range, agility, and
control over the instrument, allowing him to execute intricate
passages efficiently and expressly. Sandoval's ability to blend
various styles, including jazz, classical, and Latin music, further
adds to his versatility and appeal. Moreover, Sandoval's
contributions to the music world extend beyond his prowess as a
performer. He is also a prolific composer, arranger, and educator,
inspiring countless musicians with his innovative approach and
dedication to his craft.
Additionally, his remarkable life story, overcoming political
oppression in Cuba and finding
success on the international stage, adds depth to his legacy and
serves as an inspiration to many. While opinions on who the "best"
trumpet player in the world may vary depending on personal
preferences and criteria, Arturo
Sandoval undoubtedly ranks among the most respected and
admired musicians in his field.
He is by far one of the world's foremost entertainers, having
been seen by millions performing live at the Oscars®,
the Grammys®, the White House, and the industry's most
esteemed performing arts centers and festivals around the world.
Sandoval is a celebrated classical artist as well as composer who
has been awarded 10 Grammy Awards®, six Billboard
Awards, an Emmy®, the Hispanic Heritage Award, the
Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama, and a Doctorate
in Fine Arts from the prestigious University
of Notre Dame. He was also recently honored with a
Grammy® Lifetime Achievement Award.
Recent Kennedy Center history: Arturo Sandoval
performed the national anthem at the 2013 Kennedy Center Honors; in
June 1998, he performed alongside
Paquito D'Rivera as part of the National Symphony Orchestra's
Caribbean Festival; he performed a session as part of Billy Taylor's Jazz at the Kennedy Center in
1994, which was recorded and later aired by NPR.
The Apollo (iconic arts institution)
For nine decades,
the legendary Apollo—the soul of American culture—has played a
vital role in cultivating emerging artists, launching legends, and
serving as a center of innovation for Harlem, the city of
New York, and the world. The
largest performing arts institution committed to Black culture and
creativity, The Apollo is a beacon of the Harlem community
recognized for celebrating, creating, and presenting performances
inspired by Black American culture, which has shaped popular
culture globally. The Apollo redefines contemporary American
culture through its roles as a partner and collaborator with
artists; as a commissioner of new work, producer, presenter, arts
educator, and incubator; and as a catalyst for social and civic
advocacy.
With music at its core, The Apollo's programming extends to
dance, theater, spoken word, comedy, festivals, and more, including
special programs and blockbuster concert performances by artists
ranging from Drake, Bruno Mars, and
Alicia Keys to U2, the Red Hot Chili
Peppers, and Lady Gaga; from premieres of a musical homage to Amiri
Baraka's The Blues and Its People, the theatrical adaptation
of Ta-Nehisi Coates's Between the World and Me, and the
opera We Shall Not Be Moved; to The Gathering, which
was recently presented at the Kennedy Center. For 90 years, The
Apollo has served as a testing ground for new artists working
across a variety of art forms and ushering in the emergence of
musical genres including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel,
blues, soul, and hip hop. The countless legendary artists who
launched their careers at The Apollo's Amateur Night, the original,
large-scale talent show and one of the longest-running continuous
events in New York City, include
Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie
Holiday, James Brown,
Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Luther
Vandross, H.E.R., D'Angelo, Lauryn
Hill, Machine Gun Kelly, and Miri Ben-Ari. The Apollo's
forward-looking artistic vision continues to build on this
legacy.
During its 90th anniversary season, the organization opened The
Apollo Stages at the Victoria Theater, marking the first-ever major
expansion and renovation of the institution, and began its plans to
restore and renovate its historic theater. This will allow The
Apollo to increase performances, and educational and community
programs, as well as expand its support for artists and other
cultural organizations.
For more information, visit www.ApolloTheater.org.
Recent Kennedy Center history: The Apollo has
collaborated with the Kennedy Center several times in recent years
–The Gathering, a collaboration with the Kennedy Center, National
Black Theatre, and The Apollo Theater, in June 2024; an April
2018 co-commission and presentation of Ta-Nehisi Coates'
Between the World and Me, directed by The Apollo's Kamilah Forbes; Harlem Light/U Street Nights in
May 2015; and a 2010 Millennium Stage
performance by The Apollo Theater house band member Candido Camero in association with the
Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and
Culture and its exhibition, "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing: How
The Apollo Theater Shaped American Entertainment." In 2021,
The Apollo's Executive Producer Kamilah Forbes was recognized as a
Kennedy Center Next 50 artist and visionary leader.
Kennedy Center Honors Ticket Information:
For ticket
inquiries, please visit www.kennedy-center.org/honorsinfo.
For more information about the
Kennedy Center, please visit our website.
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SOURCE The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts