Jimmy Page, Pharrell Williams, Paloma Faith, and Oritse Williams were all in attendance on Friday at the annual Nordoff Robbins Silver Clef Awards in London.The music therapy charity's annual awards ceremony celebrates the best of the music scene and Led Zeppelin's founder Jimmy was there to pick up the 02 Silver Clef award. "I went down to the centre where they do the music therapy and I met this young man who was 11-years-old and it really had an effect on me", said Jimmy.
Jimmy Page, Paloma Faith, Pharrell Williams
"It's substantial this profound work they do with music. We all know the power of music and so I’m keen to see this", he added. Previous winners of the awards have included U2, the Rolling Stones, Ozzy Osborne, Sir Paul McCartney, The Who, Coldplay and Kaiser Chiefs. Since it's inauguration in 1976, the event has raised nearly £9 million for Nordoff Robbins.Jimmy was also joined by fellow award winner Pharrell, who was clearly in awe of being stood next to a rock legend.
"I can’t get the Immigrant Song out of my head!" Pharrell joked. "Music has always been therapeutic to me," the Happy singer continued. "If you really think about it, music is the one thing that can calm a crowd, and music is the one thing that can irate a crowd, there’s some holistic properties there. We need more foundations like this one so that people can see the effects of music therapy and what it can do and how it can lift people, and we’re happy to be here today."
Speaking to HELLO! Online, Jimmy also spoke about his biggest achievements. "Recently, I guess the Led Zeppelin re-releases. It was a long, long process and it could have been stalled or delayed and to see them actually come out was quite a day for me. "But I’m old enough to have had three of four lifetimes." When we asked Jimmy what we can expect next, he revealed: "There’s still more releases to come out with studio material, but also this year I’m getting up to speed guitar-wise, so that next year I’ll be seen to be playing which is important." Gareth Malone was another of the 2014 award winners, and he spoke passionately about the power of music for therapy.
© Photo: Getty Images
"I went to visit a Nordoff Robbins centre not very long ago. It’s really important work, I probably, better than most people, know how therapeutic music can be, how it can change lives, and you see little moments in the sessions, the glimmers, the connections, and that’s beautiful – being able to see someone express in a way in the rest their lives, they’re not able to." He added: "For me, there’s no life without music, which is what I particularly found with NR, you have these people who don’t have the immediate skills and aptitude for music, and are suddenly introduced to it in way that can change them."
Other guests at the event included Michael Ball, who when asked when he would next be on the stage told HELLO! Online he is "hoping for a new show, a new musical, next year", and Oritse Williams, formerly of JLS. HELLO! Online spoke to the 27-year-old about his production company O Street Entertainment.
© Photo: Getty ImagesPeter Andre
"We’ve put our efforts in to producing our own factual films, Britain’s Youngest Carers, which is out 9 July, 11pm on Channel 4, and it’s about highlighting an issue in this country that’s very important to me, and that’s young carers." Oritse went on to tell HELLO! Online about his time as a young carer, and added: "I’m hoping through this film I will be able to, for other young carers, get the support that’s needed. I’ve been to many of the Nordoff Robbins centres and have seen the therapy work myself with my own eyes, and my belief is as musicians it’s important that we give back."
Peter Andre was another musician who spoke of the important work Nordoff Robbins do around the country, and said: “If you’re having a bad day, whether its classical, soul, jazz... I need to hear something to make me feel good and calm, so if that’s affecting us who have the ability to do what we want to do imagine how that affects those children who haven’t got that ability, who can’t express themselves. "Stevie wonder says it, music is the only language we all understand." At the end of the event, Peter was asked who will be on his iPod as he leaves. With a cheeky smile, Peter sang: "It’s not unusual to have fun with anyone!"
