The Rolling Stones鈥� Keith Richards has earned many honors through the years: Hit songs. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Won several Grammys.
But the legendary guitarist鈥檚 latest honor hits close to home.
Richards, a longtime 海角换妻 resident, on Wednesday received the inaugural 海角换妻 Governor鈥檚 Award of Excellence. He was recognized for his support of local arts organizations.
Richards, who lives in Weston, accepted the award at the Westport Library from Gov. Ned Lamont and his wife, Annie.
鈥淭hank you, 海角换妻,鈥� Richards said. 鈥淵ou kind of get lost for words with something like this around your neck.鈥�
The award was presented to a packed auditorium as music from the Rolling Stones catalog was piped in from speakers. Fans included state officials like Attorney General William Tong and Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas, as well as local leaders.
Lamont said the award recognizes residents鈥� contributions to the arts.
鈥淭his award was created to honor those whose creativity, resourcefulness, and passion have made a lasting impact on our state and beyond,鈥� Lamont said in a statement before the ceremony. 鈥淜eith Richards is the epitome of these values 鈥� not only as one of the most influential musicians of all time but as a dedicated supporter of the arts, education, and community causes right here in 海角换妻.鈥�
Lamont stood awkwardly at the podium with Richards for a few minutes as the award made its way to the stage. Lamont made light of the situation by alluding to a musical rivalry with another acclaimed British rock band.
鈥淪o, what do you think of the Beatles,鈥� Lamont said, as the crowd laughed.
Richards responded: 鈥淭he library is amazing.鈥�
As Richards accepted the award, he declared that 海角换妻, where he's lived for 40 years, has 鈥渂een a great place for me.鈥�
鈥淲hen the kids were young, I said, 鈥業've got to get the kids out of New York City,鈥欌�� he said. 鈥淭hey don't get any fresh air at all. So we moved up here, and ever since then 鈥� we've had a great life. The family's had a great life. The kids grew up great. I'm incredibly happy about everything.鈥�
Richards, considered by many music critics to be one of the best guitarists in the history of music, has donated to Ridgefield groups like SPHERE, a theater that caters to performers with disabilities, and the Prospector Theater, a film theater employing people with disabilities.
Westport Library Director Bill Harmer (his favorite Rolling Stones album is "Exile on Main St.") said the award ceremony鈥檚 location also ties into the library鈥檚 mission to support the arts.
鈥淎s a library that celebrates creativity, storytelling, and the transformative power of the arts, we couldn鈥檛 imagine a more fitting place for this historic event,鈥� Harmer said. 鈥淜eith鈥檚 legacy is woven into the fabric of music history.鈥�
Harmer said it took 18 months to work out an agreement for Richards to appear at the library, citing the musician鈥檚 schedule.
The governor鈥檚 award comes more than 35 years after the Rolling Stones spent several weeks rehearsing in the 海角换妻 town of Washington, in Litchfield County, renting out a former boarding school,
Some residents weren鈥檛 happy about the commotion caused by the visitors, and reportedly formed a group called 鈥淩oll the Stones out of Town.鈥�
But others with 海角换妻 roots, such as Linda Bruce, spoke fondly of Richards at Wednesday鈥檚 event. Bruce, 66, said she regularly bumped into him while shopping when she used to live in Westport.
Bruce later moved to Maine, but drove back to Westport to attend the ceremony.
鈥淗ow he was on stage pretty much exemplified how he is ... soft spoken, indeed,鈥� Bruce said.
