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Entertainment

Polar Music Prize winners are a who’s who of the music world

Published 4:03 AM EDT, Tue March 28, 2023
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Angelique Kidjo is one of three 2023 recipients of the Polar Music Prize. The Beninese singer-songwriter (pictured here performing in September 2022) becomes just the third African artist to win the prize since it began in 1992.
Angelique Kidjo is one of three 2023 recipients of the Polar Music Prize. The Beninese singer-songwriter (pictured here performing in September 2022) becomes just the third African artist to win the prize since it began in 1992.
Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images
Kidjo joins an esteemed list of musicians, including Bruce Springsteen (pictured performing in Boston, Massachusetts, in March 2023), who won the award in 1997.
Kidjo joins an esteemed list of musicians, including Bruce Springsteen (pictured performing in Boston, Massachusetts, in March 2023), who won the award in 1997.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Paul McCartney won the prize in its inaugural year. He's pictured performing at the ACL Music Festival at Zilker Park, in Austin, Texas, in October 2018.
Paul McCartney won the prize in its inaugural year. He's pictured performing at the ACL Music Festival at Zilker Park, in Austin, Texas, in October 2018.
Gary Miller/Getty Images
Dizzy Gillespie, American jazz legend, won the Polar Music Prize in 1993.
Dizzy Gillespie, American jazz legend, won the Polar Music Prize in 1993.
Thierry Orban/Sygma/Getty Images
Pictured here during a performance in February 2023 in New York City, Yo-Yo Ma was a 2012 recipient of the prize.
Pictured here during a performance in February 2023 in New York City, Yo-Yo Ma was a 2012 recipient of the prize.
Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images
Nine-time Grammy winner Joni Mitchell (pictured here in 2022) was the first woman to win when she was awarded the prize in 1996.
Nine-time Grammy winner Joni Mitchell (pictured here in 2022) was the first woman to win when she was awarded the prize in 1996.
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
Grandmaster Flash took home the 2019 Polar Music Prize, alongside German violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and The Playing for Change Foundation.
Grandmaster Flash took home the 2019 Polar Music Prize, alongside German violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and The Playing for Change Foundation.
Sergione Infuso/Corbis/Getty Images
In May 1995, Elton John took home the prize in its fourth year. The legendary artist is pictured here performing at the Grammy Awards in 2018.
In May 1995, Elton John took home the prize in its fourth year. The legendary artist is pictured here performing at the Grammy Awards in 2018.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Senegal's Youssou N'Dour was a 2013 Polar Music Prize winner. N'Dour, pictured here on stage in Oslo, Norway in 2022, has described himself as a modern griot -- a West African tradition that is part storyteller, part oral historian and singer.
Senegal's Youssou N'Dour was a 2013 Polar Music Prize winner. N'Dour, pictured here on stage in Oslo, Norway in 2022, has described himself as a modern griot -- a West African tradition that is part storyteller, part oral historian and singer.
Per Ole Hagen/Redferns/Getty Images
British group Pink Floyd won the prize in 2008. L- R: Nick Mason, David Gilmour, Roger Waters and Rick Wright, pictured in 1973.
British group Pink Floyd won the prize in 2008. L- R: Nick Mason, David Gilmour, Roger Waters and Rick Wright, pictured in 1973.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
India's Ravi Shankar performs in June 2008 in London, 10 years after winning the Polar Music Prize, which <a href="https://www.polarmusicprize.org/laureates/ravi-shankar/" target="_blank" target="_blank">described him</a> as having "done more than anybody else to build bridges of growing understanding and interest between Eastern and Western music."
India's Ravi Shankar performs in June 2008 in London, 10 years after winning the Polar Music Prize, which described him as having "done more than anybody else to build bridges of growing understanding and interest between Eastern and Western music."
Howard Denner/Avalon/Getty Images
In 2002, South African singer Miriam Makeba (pictured here during a 2006 performance) became the first person from Africa to win the coveted prize.
In 2002, South African singer Miriam Makeba (pictured here during a 2006 performance) became the first person from Africa to win the coveted prize.
Georgios Kefalas/AP
1998 prize-winner Ray Charles is considered one of the most iconic musicians of all time. The American singer-songwriter, pictured here during an appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" in 1987, racked up 17 Grammy Award wins out of 37 total nominations.
1998 prize-winner Ray Charles is considered one of the most iconic musicians of all time. The American singer-songwriter, pictured here during an appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" in 1987, racked up 17 Grammy Award wins out of 37 total nominations.
Chris Haston/NBC/Getty Images
Singer, songwriter and musician Sting (pictured here on stage in Milan in 2022) won the 2017 Polar Music Prize, which called him "<a href="https://www.polarmusicprize.org/laureates/sting" target="_blank" target="_blank">a true citizen of the world.</a>"
Singer, songwriter and musician Sting (pictured here on stage in Milan in 2022) won the 2017 Polar Music Prize, which called him "a true citizen of the world."
Francesco Prandoni/Getty Images
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