David Gilmour CBE

David Gilmour

Areas of Interest

Music, Alumni

Honorary Award

Honorary Doctor of Arts, 2009

Biography

David Jon Gilmour CBE was born in Cambridge and attended Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology, a part of what is now Anglia Ruskin University. It was here that he spent many lunchtimes learning and jamming the guitar with his childhood friend Syd Barrett. Best known as a guitarist, vocalist and writer with Pink Floyd, he is also renowned for his solo work and collaborations with other artists including Kate Bush, Paul McCartney, and Pete Townshend.

In 1996, Pink Floyd were inducted into the US Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, followed by the same honour in the UK in 2005. During that same year, David was made a CBE for services to music. In 2008, David was awarded an 'Ivor' for Lifetime Achievement by the British Association of Composers and Songwriters.

David still has close ties with Anglia Ruskin University, some four decades later, supporting most recently The City Wakes project from the Cambridge School of Art. He is honoured for his outstanding contribution to music as a writer, performer and innovator.



Citation

"Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to read the citation for David Gilmour CBE for the award of Honorary Doctor of Arts.

David Jon Gilmour CBE was born in Cambridge, England, the second child of Douglas Gilmour, a senior lecturer in Zoology at Cambridge University, and Sylvia, a teacher.

David was encouraged into further education by his parents, attending Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology, a part of what is now Anglia Ruskin University. It was here that he first played with Roger 'Syd' Barrett, who was a childhood friend and then fellow arts and technology student. From this early link it could be maintained that the foundations of Pink Floyd and British Psychedelia were laid. David still has close ties with Anglia Ruskin University, some four decades later, supporting most recently The City Wakes project from the Cambridge School of Art.

Best known as guitarist, vocalist and writer with Pink Floyd, he is also renowned for his solo work and collaborations with other artists including Kate Bush, Paul McCartney, and Pete Townshend.

It was in 1965 that Syd joined Roger Waters, Nick Mason and Rick Wright to form Pink Floyd, while David toured Europe with his own bands. Two years later, he was asked to augment the Pink Floyd line up as the singer and guitarist. His playing and song writing became major factors of Pink Floyd's worldwide success during the 1970s, including his distinctive vocals and guitar playing on The Dark Side Of The Moon, the third most successful album of all time. As a side project, David released his first solo album David Gilmour in 1978. The album charted in the UK and the US. David's second solo album About Face was released in 1984, again hitting the Top 20 in the UK.

David assumed control of Pink Floyd in 1985, after Roger Waters' departure, creating the new Floyd album A Momentary Lapse of Reason. It was followed in 1994 by The Division Bell, which contained the instrumental Marooned for which Pink Floyd won their sole Grammy Award. Both albums charted at number one on both sides of the Atlantic and were supported by sell-out world tours. In 1996, Pink Floyd were inducted into the US Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, followed by the same honour in the UK in November 2005; in 2005, David Gilmour was made a CBE for services to music.

Acclaim for David Gilmour as a guitarist came when he was voted 'Best Fender Guitar Player Ever' in a poll in Guitarist magazine, beating such greats as Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. In 2006, David released his third solo album, On An Island, which entered the UK Charts at Number One as well as hitting multi-Platinum around the world. In 2008, David was awarded an 'Ivor' for Lifetime Achievement by the British Association of Composers and Songwriters.

For David's outstanding contribution to music as a writer, performer and innovator, he is among us here today to receive an award to remind him where his journey through music all began. Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to present David Gilmour CBE for the award of Doctor of Education, honoris causa."