DJ Pete Tong was honoured with the Music Industry Trusts Award (MITS) on Monday night (01.11.21) in recognition of his outstanding contribution to music.
Pete Tong and Becky Hill at the Music Industry Trusts Award ceremony in London
The 61-year-old dance legend was chosen to receive the accolade for his influence on music, his career as a broadcaster on BBC Radio 1 and his work as a record label executive, signing artists such as Frankie Knuckles, Goldie, Run DMC and Salt-n-Pepa.
Pete was presented with his gong by actor-and-DJ Idris Elba at a lavish ceremony held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
After being presented his award by his friend Idris, 49, Pete said: "I'm seriously thrilled and humbled to be standing here receiving the MITS Award because I think this is recognition of dance music’s and club culture’s influence and success. Looking round this room, there are so many people that have been on that journey with me so this is for all of you."
Star guests at the ceremony included Duran Duran singer Simon Le Bon and his wife Yasmin Le Bon, New Order, DJ Spoony, The Script singer Danny O'Donoghue, Nile Rodgers and Becky Hill.
Pete follows 2019 MITS honourees, Harry Magee and Richard Griffiths of Modest! Management, and joins the ranks of previous recipients including Emma Banks, Rob Stringer, Sir Lucian Grainge, Ahmet Ertegun, Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis and Roger Daltrey.
'Better Off Without You' singer Becky has performed with Pete on his 'Ibiza Classics' tours for several years and she insists there is no more worthy recipient of the MITS prize than him and she is delighted that dance music artists are finally being recognised for their immense contribution to music.
The 27-year-old pop star told BANG Showbiz: "To hear his journey from when he was a wedding DJ as a teenager, finding records in shops and his dedication to music it's no wonder he's getting such a prestigious award like this.
"I definitely think that dance music has been overlooked for many, many years and it's a crying shame because, actually, dance music has provided some of the most revolutionary and genre changing and history stamping moments in music and I really think Pete is a shining example who has been moving with the times and has moved the times himself."
Earlier in the evening, Becky put on a spectacular performance with hits from her and Pete’s 'Ibiza Classics' set, including a cover of Robyn’s ‘With Every Heartbeat’, ‘Love Can’t Turn Around' and ‘You’ve Got The Love’ and she was joined by the incomparable vocalists Vula Malinga, Brendan Reilly and Holly Petrie who have all recently toured with Pete.
New Order also performed a set filled with their more recent anthems and iconic classics ‘Regret’, ‘Be A Rebel’ and ‘Blue Monday’.
As the celebrations came to a close, Norman Jay ended the night with a DJ set.
Tagged in Pete Tong Nile Rodgers Becky Hill