WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 8, 2004) — Rock legend and Yamaha artist
Sir Elton John received the Kennedy Center Honor early in December. The pop icon was recognized for his contribution to American culture through the arts.
At a reception at the White House before the awards, John told the Associated Press that winning the honor "is about the icing on the cake. …It's incredible for someone who's British to be given such an accolade from America, which has given me so much already in my career."
John has been a Yamaha artist for nearly two decades, choosing to play
Yamaha Grands at all his shows, most notably the custom-made red piano that Yamaha created for John's Las Vegas engagement, "
The Red Piano."
Sir Elton can also be seen on the ABC program "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" on Sunday, December 12 at 8:00pm EST (7:00 Central; Check local listings). The show focuses on a family that includes foster children living with AIDS, a cause close to John's heart. The pop icon will pay a surprise visit to the family in the episode. One of the children is a talented piano player, so Sir Elton and Yamaha are providing the family with a Yamaha Grand Piano.
The Yamaha Artist family encompasses more than 3,500 artists, including Grammy®, Oscar® and Tony® winners, members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame®, current superstars and upcoming acts.
For more information on Yamaha Corporation of America's Artist Affairs division, please contact Tiffany Napper at
tnapper@yamaha.com or 615-599-0800. Yamaha's ever-growing list of artists can be viewed by going to
www.yamahaartists.com.
