Pharrell Williams with Maxine Ashley at Silver Clef Awards
Pharrell Williams is "thankful" to his English fans for supporting him at the start of his career.
The 'Happy' hitmaker is in the UK this weekend to accept an accolade at the Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clefs Awards and perform at the Wireless Festival and he admits he has a "soft spot" in his heart for the country because of the way people got behind his hip-hop band N.E.R.D in the late 90s.
Speaking before accepting the Raymond Weil International Award at the ceremony at the London Hilton hotel today, he told BANG Showbiz: "I have to bring the energy when I'm dealing with the English, you guys are some of the most real fans. The people in England were among the first supporters when it comes to N.E.R.D so I have a really soft spot in my heart when it comes to England. N.E.R.D worked in the UK before we worked in the States so I'm very thankful to England."
Pharrell walked the special blue carpet at the event with his new artist Maxine Ashley and he claims Maxine has the power to touch people with her voice, something he claims proves the therapeutic work Nordoff Robbins does with people works.
He said: "What these awards represent is the more medicinal side of music, the more therapeutic side of music, which is the way I see it.
"This is Maxine Ashley my artist, she's an incredible and phenomenal talent - I know everyone says that about their artists but she really is something different and something special and I've personally witnessed her singing and watched her change the mood of a crowd and bring people together and that is special - it embodies what the perfect artist is to me and it also parallels with today's awards which are all about reaching people through the means of music."
Nordoff Robbins provides music therapy for thousands of people across the UK, helping sufferers of autism, strokes and dementia open up and connect to their surroundings, increase communication skills, self-esteem and confidence.
Other stars at the awards included Jimmy Page, Sir Tom Jones, Mica Paris, Laura Mvula and Giorgio Moroder.
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