Walter Theodore (Sonny) Rollins is one of the most historically important and influential musicians of the 20th century, into the 21st century. He has performed and recorded with a virtual Who's Who of Jazz icons during his illustrious career. His inspirational music has inspired several generations of artists to be all they can be.
We love Sonny Rollins for being an unwavering source of inspiration and strength, all of our lives!
Here is a list of some of the decorations and awards, he has received over the years:
Elected to the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame (1973)
Honorary Doctor of Arts from Bard College (1992)
Honorary Doctor of Music from Wesleyan University (1998)
Honorary Doctor of Music from Long Island University (1998)
Honorary Doctor of Music from Duke University (1999)
Honorary Doctor of Music from New England Conservatory of Music (2002)
Honorary Doctor of Music from Berklee College of Music (2003)
Grammy Award for lifetime achievement (2004)
Minneapolis, Minnesota officially named October 31, 2006 after Rollins in honor of his achievements and contributions to the world of jazz.
Polar Music Prize "for over 50 years one of the most powerful and personal voices in jazz" (2007)
Honorary Doctor of Music from Colby College(2007)
Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, 1st class (2009)
Honorary Doctor of Music from Rutgers University (2009)
National Medal of Arts (2010)
Miles Davis Award at the Montreal Jazz Festival (2010)
Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2010)
Kennedy Center Honors on his 81st birthday (September 7, 2011)
Honorary Doctor of Music from the Juilliard School (May 2013)
Honorary Doctor of Music from the University of Hartford (2015)