Courtney Pine and Robert Plant get gongs

[A Lark Ascending]

Despite not being Olympic athletes both chaps were picked out of the hat for one of Britain's strangest rituals:

Robert Plant, who found fame in the 1970s with rock group Led Zeppelin, is recognised for services to music.

The singer of rock classics such as Whole Lotta Love and Stairway to Heaven becomes a CBE.

Jazz musician Courtney Pine, also made a CBE, said he was "deeply moved to be honoured".

The 44-year-old, who has become something of a British jazz ambassador, called his work "a noble mission in uniting people through sound".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7804822.stm

Though, thinking about it, Plant has a sort of Olympics connection. Maybe Her Majesty was rather taken by the double decker/hedge performance in August. Bet Jimmy's miffed.

Courtney joins the likes of Stan Tracey and Johnny Dankworth as jazzers sprinkled with establishment fairy dust.

Edited December 31, 2008 by Bev Stapleton

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I think Courtney is kind of an OK guy, though I'm not keen on his music. So, good.

MG

[A Lark Ascending]

I think Courtney is kind of an OK guy, though I'm not keen on his music. So, good.

MG

Agree. Not my style of music but he's always promoted jazz in an open and unaffected way.

[sidewinder]

I think Courtney is kind of an OK guy, though I'm not keen on his music. So, good.

MG

I would agree with that. I'm not that keen on his music either.

Can never work out why they haven't yet given Michael Garrick official recognition. Far more deserving 'For Services To British Jazz' IMO.

[A Lark Ascending]

Here's another lucky winner from the fringes of British music:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/7805305.stm

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Here's another lucky winner from the fringes of British music:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/7805305.stm

Before the full screen came up, I thought it was going to be The Singing Postman!

MG

[sidewinder]

Here's another lucky winner from the fringes of British music:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/7805305.stm

Any relation to Norma?

[AllenLowe]

better if they get bongs -

[A Lark Ascending]

Missed this one:

John Martyn OBE

[Aggie87]

Pardon my ignorance, but what's the difference between an OBE, MBE, and CBE? Are they all basically the same? Do they all get to be called "Sir"?

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority, these are:

Knight Grand Cross (GBE) or Dame Grand Cross (GBE)

Knight Commander (KBE) or Dame Commander (DBE)

Commander (CBE)

Officer (OBE)

Member (MBE)

Only the two highest ranks entail admission into knighthood, an honour allowing the recipient to use the title "Sir" (male) or "Dame" (female) before their first name. Honorary knighthoods, given to individuals who are not nationals of a realm where Queen Elizabeth II is Head of State, permit usage of the honour as a post-nominal but not as a title before their name. These recipients are classified as honorary members of the Order they receive, and do not contribute to the numbers restricted to that Order as full members do.

Full reference here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_British_Empire

There's also

The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent (later George IV) whilst he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III. It is named in honour of two military saints, St. Michael and St. George.

The Order includes three classes, in descending order of seniority:

Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GCMG)

Knight Commander (KCMG) or Dame Commander (DCMG)

Companion (CMG)

It is used to honour individuals who have rendered important services in relation to Commonwealth or foreign nations. People are appointed to the Order rather than awarded it. British Ambassadors to foreign nations are regularly appointed as KCMGs or CMGs. For example, the British Ambassador to the United States, Sir David Manning, was appointed a CMG when he worked for the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and then after his appointment as British Ambassador to the United States, he was promoted to a Knight Commander (KCMG). Often, when the queen visits a nation, the British ambassador to that nation automatically becomes a Knight Commander of the Order, and thereafter may use the prefix "Sir". It is the traditional award for members of the FCO. Ian Fleming's spy, James Bond, was fictionally decorated with the CMG in 1953.

In the Foreign Office, CMGs are known as "call me God"; KCMGs as "kindly call me God"; and GCMGs as "God calls me God".

MG

[Aggie87]

In the Foreign Office, CMGs are known as "call me God"; KCMGs as "kindly call me God"; and GCMGs as "God calls me God".