Blackwell wins Mojo award

09:02 | Friday June 12, 2009

Other winners on the night included Blur, who appeared in public together for the first time since announcing their reformation to pick up their Mojo Inspiration award; Fleet Foxes, who won best live act, and Yoko Ono, who received the Mojo Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mojo editor in chief Phil Alexander said of Blackwell, “Without Chris Blackwell no Bob Marley, no U2, no Tom Waits, no Grace Jones, no Cat Stevens, no John Martyn, no Free… bloody hell! The list is almost endless.

“Chris is one of the great record men. There is a sense of adventure about him and a knack for signing music that endures. The Mojo Medal – which recognises services to music – is in recognition of just how special he made Island records. A unique label run by a unique man who assembled a unique team to look after unique talent. Happy 50th anniversary, Island.”

Among those presenting awards on the night were New Order, Terry Hall and Corinne Bailey Rae, making her first public appearance in two years. The event took place at The Brewery in London.

Of Ono, Alexander said, “She may have been married to one of the most famous men in the world, but she also helped change music as we know it in her own right: first, by introducing avant-garde sensibilities to her husband and secondly, just as significantly, by continuing to push the boundaries of what was deemed the norm way after that. She is a huge influence on modern music and this award recognises her inspirational qualities and ongoing questing. Yoko Ono is unique and we are thrilled to commemorate her lifetime on the frontline.”

The full Mojo Honours List is as follows:

Mojo Breakthrough Act – White Lies

Mojo Song Of the Year – Elbow One Day Like This

Mojo Best Live Act (Sponsored by Jose Cuervo) – Fleet Foxes

Mojo Best Album – Paul Weller 22 Dreams

Mojo Compilation Of The Year – Take Me To The River: A Southern Soul Story

Mojo Vision Award – Joy Division

Mojo Catalogue Award (Sponsored by HMV) – Miles Davis

Kind Of Blue 50th Anniversary Edition

The Mojo Classic Album Award – The Zombies Odessey And Oracle

The Mojo Maverick Award – Manic Street Preachers

The Mojo Hero Award – The Pretty Things

The Mojo Outstanding Contribution To Music – Joe Brown

The Mojo Roots Awards – Topic Records

Mojo Classic Songwriter Award – Johnny Marr

Mojo Medal – Chris Blackwell / Island Records

The Mojo Inspiration Award (Sponsored by HMV) – Blur

The Mojo Icon Award (Sponsored by EMI Music Catalogue Marketing) – Phil Lynott

The Mojo Les Paul Award (Sponsored by Gibson Guitar) – Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)

The Mojo Hall OF Fame (Sponsored by Universal Music Catalogue) – Mott The Hoople

The Mojo Lifetime Achievement Award (Sponsored by Sony Music Group) – Yoko Ono