HERBIE HANCOCK TO BE HONORED BY BET JANUARY 15TH AS PART OF ANNUAL BET HONORS CEREMONY

Source: Muse Media


Los Angeles, California. Legendary musician and genre-defying artist Herbie Hancock will be a recipient at this year's BET HONORS celebration January 15th in Washington, D.C. Along with other honorees including Cicely Tyson, Jamie Foxx and Iman. Hancock will be celebrated by musical artists including Chick Corea, Wallace Roney, Ron Carter, Lenny White and Naturally 7, with the award itself presented by music industry icon Jimmy Jam. Hosted by actress Gabrielle Union, BET HONORS recognizes lifetime contributions and exceptional service of certain individuals to African-American culture in music, media, film, service and education. The special will tape at the historic Warner Theater and will premiere during Black History Month on Monday, February 21 at 9:00 p.m.


Additionally, Hancock is set to perform at The Kennedy Center on January 20th as part of the 50th anniversary festivities marking the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy Hancock will be performing with Esperanza Spaulding and Jack DeJohnette. Other artists on the bill include Paul Simon, Denyce Graves, Yo-Yo Ma, Emanuel Ax and the American Ballet Theatre.


Just recently, Herbie Hancock's “The Imagine Project" has been nominated for three Grammy Awards at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony, which takes place on Sunday, February 13th, 2011. “The Imagine Project" is nominated in the categories of Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals (for the track “Imagine" featuring Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Seal, Konono No l, Jeff Beck & Oumou Sangare), Best Improvised Jazz Solo (for the song “A Change Is Gonna Come" featuring Hancock's solo on piano) and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)("Imagine").


“The Imagine Project," the latest CD from the multiple Grammy-winning artist and musical pioneer, is an unprecedented international recording featuring collaborations between Hancock and over a dozen superstars from every region of the planet. “The Imagine Project" utilizes the universal language of music to express its central themes of peace and global responsibility. The musical collaborations on the CD combine Hancock's genre-defying musical vision with the “local" musical identity of cultures from around the world. With veteran music producer Larry Klein serving as one of the album's producers, “The Imagine Project" was released June 22nd via Hancock Records/RED to coincide with Hancock's 70th birthday. An extensive world tour accompanied the release, including a performance at this year's Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, December 11th, and birthday tributes which took place at Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl earlier this year.


“Music truly is the universal language," says Hancock, “The Imagine Project" explores that concept across the globe, uniting a myriad of cultures through song and positive creative expression. My hope is that the music will serve as a metaphor for the actions taken by the inhabitants of this wonderful planet as a call for world harmony on all levels."


 Tracks include “The Song Goes On" with Anoushka Shankar (sitarist daughter of Ravi Shankar), Chaka Khan and Wayne Shorter which was recorded in Mumbai, India, along with a stellar group of Indian musicians; “Don't Give Up," a duet recorded in London, New York and Los Angeles featuring Pink and John Legend, “Imagine" with Seal, Pink, Konono No l, Jeff Beck, Oumou Sangare, India.Arie, Lionel Loueke and Marcus Miller recorded in Paris, London and Los Angeles; “Tamatant Tilay/Exodus" featuring Tinariwen and Los Lobos, “The Times, They Are A' Changin'" featuring The Chieftains, Toumani Diabete, Lionel Loueke and Lisa Hannigan recorded in Ireland; “Tomorrow Never Knows" featuring Dave Matthews, “Space Captain" with Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, “La Tierra" recorded with Latin superstar Juanes in Miami, “A Change Is Gonna Come" with James Morrison and a track with Brazilian singer-songwriter Ceu, “Tempo de Amour," recorded in Sao Paulo.


Check out tracks from The Imagine Project on Hancock's website.


While the CD stands, on one level, as a powerful testament for the goals of world peace, humanity and tolerance along with respect for our planet, Herbie Hancock's “The Imagine Project" shall remain, at its core, entertainment content that is creatively and emotionally deeply fulfilling.


Proceeds from this year's BET HONORS private ticket sales will be given to the Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. Additionally, BET Networks will encourage audience members, viewers at home and online visitors to donate to the Project.