Music legend George Clinton, who continues to tour the world performing funk-filled concerts, will be honoured for his contribution to music this fall in New York.
Performing rights organization Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) will present Clinton with its BMI Icon honour at the annual Urban Awards gala, organizers announced Tuesday.
The distinction is awarded to those who have had "a unique and indelible influence on generations of music-makers."
Clinton, who got his start as a doo-wop singer, helped revolutionize the R&B genre in the 1970s by mixing rock influences with soul music to create funk through his Parliament/Funkadelic collectives.
In the 1980s, he ventured out as a solo artist, but also continued to perform with his former bandmates under the new moniker P-Funk All-Stars. Clinton and funk are often cited as key influences of hip hop.
The 68-year-old Clinton, who performed in Toronto earlier this month, is currently on a tour of North and South America, Europe and Japan to promote his latest album, Gangsters Of Love.
In receiving the BMI Icon award, he joins the likes of James Brown, Chuck Berry, Willie Nelson and Carlos Santana.
Scheduled for Jazz at Lincoln Center on Sept. 10, the BMI ceremony will also include the presentation of the organization's awards for the year's top urban song, songwriter and publisher of the year.
