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July 17, 2007 Ambassador Simonyi hosts the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Ambassador Simonyi hosts the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Guests of Honor Senator George V. Voinovich, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Steve Winwood, and CEO of the Rock Hall of Fame Terry Stewart. The event was devoted to the Rock Hall of Fame and its educational programs. Ambassador András Simonyi and Mrs. Náda P. Simonyi brought the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to Washington at an exclusive event held at the Ambassador’s residence. The guests of honor were Senator George V. Voinovich, who helped open the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland during his governorship of Ohio, Steve Winwood, former member of Traffic and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and Terry Stewart, CEO of the Hall of fame.
Terry Stewart, CEO of the Rock Hall of Fame, presented the Ambassador with a Gold Record, honoring his contribution to promoting rock music. Terry Stewart and the Ambassador have worked on numerous projects together in the past. The Ambassador considers Terry to be an outstanding director of one of the most exciting museums in the world. The Ambassador recounted the first time he saw the band Traffic play in 1968 in Budapest, at which time he first met Steve Winwood. Living behind the Iron Curtain, Ambassador Simonyi explained that rock and roll music brought the culture of freedom to Central and Eastern Europe, and had a great personal impact on his life.
Senator George V. Voinovich spoke about bringing the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum to Ohio, which has attracted people from all over the country. President and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum, Terry Stewart, gave a speech about the function of rock and roll music, not just has an art form, but also as a form of history that can teach us about the social, racial, and political progression of our society. Stevie Winwood reflected on hearing about Hungarian refugees on the news, and realizing the great influence his music had had on the people in Budapest. He also spoke at length about his memories of Hungary, which even under communism clearly had a strong feeling of grandeur. He told the audience that he had only recently realized the connection between his journey and the quest for freedom of Hungarians.
Jeffery “Skunk” Baxter, former member of hit bands such as Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers, defense analyst and Military defense consultant to Congressmen, and friend of the Ambassadors, also spoke. Secretary of the Department of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez gave a brief speech, stating that he could not wait for the day that he could go to a democratic Cuba with Ambassador Simonyi, and walk down the street playing the music of Traffic. Ambassador Simonyi presented Senator Voinovich, Steve Winwood, and Jeffrey Baxter with medals designed after those worn by Hungarian Freedom Fighters, to show his appreciation for their contributions to spreading the ideas of freedom through music.
The Rock and Roll exhibits on display at the residence included Bono’s leather jacket that he wore during the U2 half-time performance at the Super Bowl XXXVI, a dress worn by Tina Turner, a hollow-body electric guitar played by Bruce Springstein, an outfit worn by Stevie Wonder, one of Bo Diddly’s characteristically rectangle-shaped guitars, and a tunic worn by Steve Winwood during a Traffic performance.
Distinguished guests included Congressman Spencer Bachus; Senator Robert F. Bennett; Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart; Congressman Dana Rohrabacher; CNN’s television host Wolf Blitzer; President of the Hungarian American Coalition, Teleki Maximilian; Ambassador of Austria, Eva Nowotny; Ambassador of Cyprus, Andreas Kakouris; Ambassador of Bahrain, Sheikh Terky Bin Rashid Al Khalifa; and Ambassador of Germany, Dr. Klaus Scharioth.
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