Van Morrison has been given a knighthood

PRESS RELEASE:

It was just announced  by Downing Street in London that Van Morrison has been given a knighthood, the highest honor bestowed upon on an individual in the United Kingdom. Van Morrison is also scheduled to receive the Johnny Mercer Award at the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame gala next week in New York City on Thursday, June 18th.

“We are thrilled to hear the momentous news that Van Morrison has received such a prestigious and well deserved honor today.  All of us at RCA are wishing him a heartfelt congratulations,” comments Peter Edge, CEO, RCA Records and Tom Corson, President and COO, RCA Records.

Van Morrison has recently released his latest album DUETS: RE-WORKING THE CATALOGUE to overwhelming critical acclaim.  The album features duet performances with Bobby Womack, Steve Winwood, Mark Knopfler, Taj Mahal, Mavis Staples, Michael Bublé, Natalie Cole, George Benson, Gregory Porter, Clare Teal, P.J. Proby, Joss Stone, Georgie Fame, Mick Hucknall, Chris Farlowe, and Van’s daughter Shana Morrison.

The Associated Press called DUETS “a warm, refreshing look at the stunning breadth of Morrison’s poetic compositions, dating back nearly five decades…the music is unified by his fierce vision, and set off by his magnificent voice (untrammeled by time) and Rolling Stone raved “Van Morrison unearths lost classics with all-star friends from Mavis Staples to Steve Winwood(his duet partners) rise to the Van challenge…It’s a gem that only could be imagined by Morrison’s brilliance.”