The Spanish singer and composer Joan Manuel Serrat is the winner of the 2024 Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts “for the scope of an artistic career that transcends music,” the jury announced this Wednesday. At 80 years old, this award represents a milestone in a career that has left an indelible mark on the history of contemporary music.
The work of the 80-year-old Catalan singer-songwriter, recognized both in Spain and Latin America, was highlighted for combining “the art of poetry and music at the service of tolerance, shared values, the richness of the diversity of languages and cultures.” , as well as a necessary desire for freedom,” according to the jury minutes for this award convened by the Princess of Asturias Foundation, the heir to the Spanish throne.
From his beginnings in the sixties until his consecration as a prominent character in modern song, Serrat has been recognized for his musical proposals that intertwine poetry with melody, this is part of a distinctive style that has captivated his audience throughout his career. artistic career. Among his most notable works are albums such as Mediterranean, Paraules of love and Childish song. His musical style covers genres such as songwriting, folk, pop and rock. The Spanish musician has been one of the main exponents of author songs in Spain.
The jury, chaired by Miguel Zugaza, highlighted Serrat’s career: “A defender of dialogue in the face of tension, the work of Joan Manuel Serrat is an exponent of his inalienable vocation to build bridges between countries and generations.”
This Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts joins a list of recognitions for Serrat, which include the SGAE Gold Medal, the National Culture Award of Catalonia and an honorary Latin Grammy. His legacy as a singer-songwriter that has marked several generations throughout his musical career.
The award comes at a significant moment, after Serrat ended his career with a historic concert at the Palau Sant Jordi in December 2022, in the last performance of his tour, in front of thousands of fans and closing a chapter of the History of Spanish music. At 80 years old, Joan Manuel Serrat’s legacy continues to resonate with the people of Spain and many other places where he reached.
