Kennedy Center honourees include India-born conductor

Director Spielberg, composer Lloyd Webber and singers Parton and Robinson also feted

Last Updated: Sunday, December 3, 2006 | 2:53 PM ET

CBC Arts

Conductor Zubin Mehta became the first person of Indian heritage to receive a Kennedy Center Honour, joining director Steven Spielberg, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and singers Dolly Parton and Smokey Robinson in the 2006 tribute.

The five artists were feted by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at a dinner in the U.S. State Department building in Washington, D.C., on Saturday night, as they were recognized for their lifetime contributions to arts and culture in the United States.

Filmmaker Steven Spielberg, one of this year's Kennedy Center honourees, arrives with his wife, actress Kate Capshaw, at the dinner on Saturday.
(J.Scott Applewhite/ Associated Press)

The celebrations continue through the weekend, ending with a Sunday night event at the Kennedy Center with performances and speeches. On Sunday, the honourees met with President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura.

The 70-year-old Mehta — who was born in Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay — has lead orchestras all over the world including the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic.

Rice regaled about 250 guests at the dinner with her story of trying to see a Smokey Robinson concert on her first date, but her father insisted on joining the couple out of concern that "there was too much power in Smokey's soul."

Parton, a prolific performer

The always-vivacious Parton, noting the opulent surroundings at the dinner on Saturday evening, commented: "This is like hillbillies in the city."

Dolly Parton, seen in Toronto in November, has sold 100 million records worldwide in her career as a singer/songwriter.
(Aaron Harris/Canadian Press)

The country singer/songwriter holds 25 U.S. gold and platinum honours as well as selling 100 million records in her long career. She has won seven Grammy Awards and is a media mogul who composes for other artists and films as well as running her own production company, creating TV shows, films and documentaries.

Her best-known songs include Jolene, Coat of Many Colours, I Will Always Love You and 9 to 5, also the title of the movie in which she co-starred with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.

Three-time Oscar winning director Steven Spielberg, the man behind Jaws, E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark and Schindler's List, said he would not bring up any politics during the weekend and emphasized politics would "remain in suspended animation for 48 hours."

Robinson marked his place in music history with songs such as The Tracks of My Tears, You've Really Got a Hold on Me and I Second That Emotion.

The Detroit-born singer was a member of the bestselling Motown group The Miracles. He has 70 Top 40 hits under his belt and once served as Motown records' vice-president.

British theatre producer Andrew Lloyd Webber was the other foreign-born honouree.  He was singled out for his productions of The Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Evita. The 58-year-old composer has created 13 musicals, collecting three Tony Awards, three Grammys, an Oscar and an International Emmy along the way.

The 2006 honourees were selected from a committee of diverse artists which included Canadian comic Dan Akroyd and opera singer Beverly Sills.