Singer Bryan Ferry 'humbled' by CBE (From Times Series)

Singer Bryan Ferry 'humbled' by CBE

2:02pm Wednesday 30th November 2011 in Freetime © Press Association 2013

Bryan Ferry has been made a CBE by the Queen for a life in music spanning almost 40 years and described the honour as "humbling".

The 66-year-old singer's career has covered everything from experimental tunes to sophisticated soul-pop and influenced many bands along the way.

With his distinctive delivery, good looks, debonair sense of style and supermodel girlfriend on his arm, Ferry was the ultimate rock star.

The Roxy Music frontman enjoyed a number of memorable hits with his bandmates - who included musical svengali Brian Eno in the early days - from their debut release Virginia Plain to the dancefloor filler Love Is The Drug.

His solo output showed another side of the singer - the suave cocktail bar crooner - who covered a string of songs by well-known artists like John Lennon and Bob Dylan.

Speaking after today's investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, Ferry said: "Getting something like this is actually very humbling and I was very pleased to be recognised for, I guess, a long career and doing something I love doing.

"To get an official award like this is incredibly nice and quite a surprise - a very good surprise.

"I always knew I was going to be an artist - as soon as I left school and went to university and spent four years studying painting, I thought that's what I want to do.

"I got to a point where I thought I'd put a band together and make a record and if it doesn't work I'll go back to painting, but the band worked incredibly well."

He is currently touring his latest solo album, Olympia, and played reunion shows with Roxy Music early this year.