Acker Bilk Presented with Special APPJAG Award at the Houses of Parliament

Acker receives his APPJAG award from Moira Stewart

Jazz&Jazz wishes to join others in expressing huge delight at the presentation of the 2012 Special All Party Parliamentary Jazz (APPJAG) Award to Acker Bilk on Wednesday, 16th May.

And who better to describe Acker’s delight than his Personal Manager, Pamela Sutton:

“Acker had a great night at the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Awards on Wednesday, 16th May. PPL really looked after him as he was escorted through all the security checks into The House of Commons. The Awards Ceremony was in the reception room leading on to the Pavilion Terrace. Acker had a good time talking to loads of jazz musicians such as Jamie Cullum, Bobby Wellins, Hump’s old drummer, Laurie Hollaway and so on. You would know them all better than I! He had a good laugh with Lord and Lady Prescott and Lord David Steel. 

“Acker was there to present the Jazz Musician of the Year Award and it went to Bobby Wellins. But the icing on the cake came when Paul Gambaccini asked him to stay on the stage for Moira Stewart to present him with the the 2012 SPECIAL APPJAG AWARD, their highest honour. Acker was genuinely delighted.

“PPL had kept this a real surprise for us all.”

Pamela Frances Sutton
Personal Manager to Acker Bilk MBE

Photos courtesy of
PPL & Photographer Hayley Madden

A record number of MPs and peers, including Arts Minister Ed Vaizey MP, The Rt Hon The Lord Prescott and Lord David Steel, all members of  The All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group, attended the Jazz Awards, sponsored by PPL.  Now the only UK jazz awards, the night was hosted by broadcaster Paul Gambaccini. Many renowned jazz musicians were present, including Acker, Jamie Cullum, Claire Martin, and Laurie Holloway.

“Acker Bilk became the household name of jazz, with his hit, ‘Stranger on the Shore’ in 1961. It was in the charts for 55 weeks and was the first number 1 hit in the UK and USA simultaneously. A great master of the clarinet, known for his trademark goatee beard, bowler hat, striped waistcoat and breathy, vibrato-rich, lower-register clarinet style, we are very proud to honour one of the most successful British jazz musicians ever, and still going strong today!” (SMIA)

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