Nile Rodgers and Daniel Glass Awarded Order of Arts and Letters by French Government
Pictured Above: L-R: Michele Amar, Nile Rodgers, Thomas Michelon, Daniel Glass (photo credit: Daniel Leinweber)
Music industry executive, Daniel Glass, and Grammy Award winning record producer, songwriter, musician, composer, and guitarist, Nile Rodgers, were conferred one of France’s highest honors, the insignia of the Order of Arts and Letters by Thomas Michelon, Deputy Cultural Counselor of the French Embassy, on Tuesday, November 15, 2016, at a ceremony taking place at the Payne Whitney Mansion in New York, home to the Cultural Services of the French Embassy. Given under the jurisdiction of the French Minister of Culture and Communications, the Order of Arts and Letters was established in 1957 to recognize eminent people who have contributed significantly to furthering the arts in France and throughout the world. American recipients of the award include Paul Auster, Ornette Coleman, Agnes Gund, Marilyn Horne, Jim Jarmusch, Richard Meier, Robert Paxton, Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, and Uma Thurman.
Founder and CEO of Glassnote Entertainment Group, Daniel Glass got his start as a DJ as the world famous Discotheque Regine’s in NYC. From there he worked for indie dance label SAM Records where he placed an emphasis on developing careers rather than individual hit singles. Over his career Glass has worked with superstars such as Erykah Badu, Blur, Wilson Phillips, Arrested Development and more. In 2007, Glass created the Glassnote Entertainment Group, enriching the music industry with artists such as Two Door Cinema Club, Mumford & Sons, CHVRCHES, Childish Gambino and French band Phoenix. Widely recognized as a mentor and trailblazer, in June 2016 Daniel received the International Midem Award for Passion, Talent and Achievement at the 50th Anniversary celebration in Cannes.
Nile Rodgers has produced and collaborated with some of the most acclaimed musicians of the past four decades including Daft Punk, Diana Ross, Sheena Easton, David Bowie, Bryan Ferry, Duran Duran, Madonna, INXS, Britney Spears, Spoons, Laurie Anderson, Pharrell Williams, Lady Gaga, Kylie Minogue, Christina Aguilera, and many more, resulting in the sales of 200 million albums and 50 million singles all over the world. As a guitarist, Rodgers co-founded the band Chic in 1976 along with bassist Bernard Edwards. Chic became one of the most successful bands of the disco era with notable hits such as Le Freak (1978), for which Rodgers was placed in the Grammy Hall of Fame, and Good Times (1979).
He became the producer behind classics such as David Bowie’s best-selling album, Let’s Dance, as well as Madonna’s Like a Virgin and Duran Duran’s Notorious. He also produced albums for Grace Jones, Earth, Wind and Fire’s vocalist Phillip Bailey, and Al Jarreau. Rodgers is also known for his humanitarian acts and promotion of social justice throughout the years. He was an active participant in the Civil Rights Movement, joining the Black Panthers of Harlem. Following 9/11, he founded the We Are Family Foundation, aimed at promoting healing for families and encouraging young people. Rodgers has collaborated on numerous occasions with French music duo Daft Punk, as both a musician and producer, co-writing and playing guitar on three tracks including the 2013 world-renowned hit Get Lucky, an album for which he won three Grammy Awards.
