GLOBAL – UNITED KINGDOM, APRIL 24, 2013 – Frontman and founder of The Black Eyed Peas will.i.am has been named the recipient of the 2013 Honorary Clio Award.
This makes the recording artist and performer (among other things he’s busy doing) the fourth recipient of the award since Clio recognizing “individuals who are changing the world by encouraging people to think differently”. Last year’s recipients were photographer Annie Leibowitz and food television personality Anthony Bourdain.
will.i.am, a multi-faceted entertainer and creative innovator, is a seven-time Grammy Award winner. Aside from his world-renowned works with The Black Eyed Peas, he has also released four songs from his upcoming solo record, #willpower which is due out this month.
He broke the record for being the first recording artist to send a song to Mars in conjunction with NASA’s Curiosity Mars Space Lab. Space and music industry firsts were achieved on August 28, 2012 when “Reach For The Stars (Mars Edition)” was played back from Mars during a youth education event hosted by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
His songs are characterized imagery that have not only entertained millions but inspired them as well. One such song that has cut through the youth is his 2008 song “Yes We Can”, which has mobilized an entire generation to action during the 2008 US presidential campaign. The song, demonstrating that brands and causes can be intertwined to entertain and perform, “Yes We Can" garnered an Emmy Award for "Best New Approaches in Daytime Entertainment" as well as a CLIO award in the Interactive category.
Aside from his musical accomplishments, Will.i.am also serves as a consultant to and collaborator with brands on pop culture, business and technology. Among his salutations, Will.i.am has added the title of creative innovation for Intel. He goes from technology brand to soda brand Coca-Cola to invent a line of products made in part from recycled materials. All in all, he is an entrepreneur, philanthropist and has even been recognized as a speaker at BSR, Cannes Golden Lion Festival, CES, US FIRST, IBC, MacWorld, Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal College of Art, Royal Television Society, UK Trade & Investment Summit and others.
Numerous industry organizations have also honored him. will.i.am was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in March, 2013, in recognition for his role as a STEM education advocate. He is the recipient of multiple Grammy Awards, a Latin Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, a CLIO Award, two NAACP Image Awards, a VH1 Do Something Award, the BMI President’s Award and a 2008 Webby Award.
