Eagles, Mavis Staples, James Taylor to receive Kennedy Center honours

The Eagles with Jackson Browne
The Eagles and Jackson Browne at this year's Grammys ceremony (Image credit: Getty)

The Eagles, Mavis Staples and James Taylor will be honoured by the John F Kennedy Center For Perfoming Arts this year.

They’ll be honoured at a gala event on December 4 in recognition of their contribution to American culture through the arts.

Actor Al Pacino and pianist Martha Argerich have also been named as recipients.

The Eagles were to take part last year, but changed their plans as a result of Glenn Frey’s poor health. He died weeks after the 2015 event took place.

Kennedy Center president Deborah Rutter says: “You could say all of them are overdue, or all of them are exactly at the right moment.

“We have a great opportunity to recognise people who are still active, and have accomplished so much.”

Don Henley said in March that the Eagles were over, and that their tribute set to Frey at this year’s Grammys – featuring Jackson Browne – had been their final appearance. Staples won this year’s Best American Roots Performance Grammy.

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Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.