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If all Nile Rodgers had ever done in the music business was to start the band Chic, he would be a pioneer. If all he'd ever done was to play in the house band at the Apollo Theater, playing for the greatest R&B legends of all time, and later behind stars like Ashford & Simpson and Luther Vandross, he'd be well-respected part of musical history. If all he'd done was to produce hit records for such artists as Diana Ross, David Bowie, Duran Duran and Madonna, he'd be acclaimed as a legendary producer. If all he'd done was to write songs like "Le Freak", "We Are Family" and "I'm Coming Out", he'd be in the Songwriters Hall Of Fame. But Nile Rodgers did all those things, he's a pioneer, a part of musical history, a legendary producer, he's in the Songwriters Hall Of Fame and he's a multiple Grammy winner. He's even worked with the Sesame Street band!

Paul Williams is also in the Songwriters Hall Of Fame, having written hit songs for the Carpenters, Three Dog Night, and having won an Academy Award (and a Grammy and a Golden Globe) for writing "Evergreen" for Barbra Streisand. He's had his songs recorded by artists as diverse as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Willie Nelson, Sarah McLachlan and most recently, Daft Punk. He's had a successful recording career in his own right, and a successful career in film, having starred in and scored the cult hit "Phantom Of The Paradise." Paul is currently the President and Chairman of the Board of ASCAP, and a leading spokesman for music creators in the digital age. He's even worked with the Muppets!

So it was with great pleasure that on Friday, May 9th as part of the 2014 Music Summit, Canadian Music Week welcomed back two old friends for a Celebrity Interview at the Toronto Marriot Hotel. Nile was interviewed by Paul, but it really seemed more like a chat between old friends, comfortable and affectionate. Appropriately, they share a birthday. They discussed Nile's career, Paul's career, hip-hop as "collage art", and the importance of connectedness with others in the 21st century. As Nile says, "Everything I've done is a collaboration."

After the intimate but wide-ranging conversation, Nile was surprised to be honoured with the CMW's inaugural Global Creator's Award presented to him for his widespread influence on the industry as a whole. The award will be known as the Nile Rodgers Global Creator's Award.