ELO’s Jeff Lynne Awarded O.B.E. Honor for ‘Services to Music’

Electric Light Orchestra’s Jeff Lynne, grime rapper Dizzee Rascal, documentarian Sir David Attenborough and singer Joan Armatrading were among the British artists to receive appointments on the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Lynne received an O.B.E. (Order of the British Empire) for his “services to music”; in addition to his tenures with ELO and the Traveling Wilburys, Lynne produced albums and co-wrote music with artists like Tom Petty, George Harrison, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison.

“I am extremely humbled and grateful to be awarded this honour for my services to music. To be recognized for my work is an extraordinary privilege,” Lynne tweeted.

JUST ANNOUNCED: Jeff has received an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. 
“I am extremely humbled and grateful to be awarded this honour for my services to music. To be recognised for my work is an extraordinary privilege.” -Jeff Lynne pic.twitter.com/6KvXJ65xoV

— Jeff Lynne’s ELO (@JeffLynnesELO) October 10, 2020

Dizzee Rascal — real name Dylan Kwabena Mills — received an M.B.E. (Member of the Order of the British Empire, the BBC reports.

The Queen’s Birthday Honours are customarily announced in June, but were postponed until October 10th due to the coronavirus pandemic. In 2019, Elvis Costello and M.I.A. were among the artists to receive Birthday Honours, while Elton John, Queen drummer Roger Taylor and Olivia Newton-John were recognized by Queen Elizabeth’s New Year’s Honours List in late-December.