Queen Elizabeth II has awarded Graham Nash of The Hollies / Crosby, Stills and Nash and John Cale of the Velvet Undercover the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.).
In separate statements, both artists were thankful for the award although Cale has no idea was he was given it. "I'm stunned. It makes you think 'well maybe I did something right' ? and now I've got to figure out what that was. I thought I was too much of a tearaway," he said earlier today.Nash was truly honored. "Everything I learned about being a decent human being I learned in England and I am grateful to be honoured by the country of my birth," he said.
Nash received the award for his services to music and his charitable activities. His career started originally in England as a founding member of The Hollies. The band took its name from Buddy Holly.
Nash moved to the USA in 1968 and formed C,S,N with David Crosby and Stephen Stills. The trio has also recorded three albums with Neil Young as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
68-year old Cale was born in Wales but made his name in the USA with Lou Reed in the Velvet Underground.
The Queen has awarded actress Katherine Zeta-Jones the C.B.E. this weekend as well.
