A night of nights
Dear friends join for a tremendous honor
On Tuesday, November 12th I was awarded, alongside Yoko Ono and Sandra Bloodworth, the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Medal from NYC’s Municipal Arts Society. The event was at Cipriano South Street and I was very touched to see many people who have supported me through the years, including my dear friend Ina Meibach, who provided our table and Clive Davis who signed me to Arista Records in 1975. It’s hard to express what an emotional evening it was. Michael Stipe delivered such a moving speech to introduce me that I was in tears; I will always be grateful. Afterwards Jesse and I performed a song I had written and played at home with her late father in 1994. I wrote it in response to a news story telling how when diagnosed with terminal cancer Jaqueline sent away her security team and walked home alone through her beloved Central Park. It was the first time I had ever sung it publicly and it was very fitting to do so with Jesse. I am extremely proud of her.
Tony Shanahan then joined and we performed our song Peaceable Kingdom with gratitude to Yoko Ono and her tireless efforts to remind us that Peace is the highest most humanistic option. The medal is beautiful and I feel very honored to have received it, especially in the company of such a feast of friends.
Special thanks to Lynn Goldsmith for the pictures of this happy night.
Well deserved. Is it insane that, as a subscriber and regular visitor here, I feel extremely proud of you, like a friend?
Patti. Yoko. Sandra. We are so blessed and grateful.
"Why must we hide all these feelings inside?
Lions and lambs shall abide
Maybe one day we'll be strong enough To build it back again
Build the peaceable kingdom Back again
Build it back again"