Two of Canada’s legendary rock icons have been chosen to receive the country’s highest civilian honour.
Neil Young and Burton Cummings were named Officers of the Order of Canada on Dec. 30, cementing their reputation as two of Canada’s finest and most influential musicians.
Governor General Michaëlle Jean announced 32 new members and promoted 25 people, including Cummings and Young, from member to officer. There are three levels to the order, companion being the highest.
Cummings was named for his contributions as a musician, singer and songwriter, both with the Guess Who and as a solo artist, and for his support of fundraising initiatives, while Young was appointed for his contributions as one of Canada’s greatest musical talents as well as his support of educational and charitable organizations.
Young—beat poet laureate, “Godfather of Grunge,” activist, and filmmaker—can add the Order of Canada to the list of accolades he has received over his long and storied career. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 1995 and also as a member of Buffalo Springfield in 1997.
As a founding member of Buffalo Springfield in the early 1960’s, with his signature singing voice Young went on to become one of the most prominent and important figures in 20th century music. From hard rock anthems like “Keep on Rocking in the Free World” to the folk classic “Heart of Gold,” Young has covered varied ground in his long career.
In addition to his musical contributions Young has been a strong advocate for environmental issues. He recently converted a 1959 Lincoln Continental to a zero-emissions automobile called the Lincvolt, which will be the subject of a documentary about the project which aims to reduce the demand for petro-fuels.
