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Wednesday, November 11, 2026Nov 11

Mick Jagger avoids limelight as Charlie Watts wins award

FILE- In this Nov. 15, 2016, file photo, The Rolling Stones, from left, Ronnie Wood, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts attend the opening night party for "Exhibitionism" at Industria in New York. Watts received the Gold Award for a lifetime of blues, jazz and rock excellence at Jazz FM's gala in London on Tuesday, April 25, 2017. The Stones also won two awards. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
FILE- In this Nov. 15, 2016, file photo, The Rolling Stones, from left, Ronnie Wood, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts attend the opening night party for "Exhibitionism" at Industria in New York. Watts received the Gold Award for a lifetime of blues, jazz and rock excellence at Jazz FM's gala in London on Tuesday, April 25, 2017. The Stones also won two awards. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) FILE- In this Nov. 15, 2016, file photo, The Rolling Stones, from left, Ronnie Wood, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts attend the opening night party for "Exhibitionism" at Industria in New York. Watts received the Gold Award for a lifetime of blues, jazz and rock excellence at Jazz FM's gala in London on Tuesday, April 25, 2017. The Stones also won two awards. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

LONDON (AP) – It’s not often Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger tries to avoid the spotlight and shift attention to drummer Charlie Watts.

But that happened Tuesday night at Jazz FM’s gala in London when Watts received the Gold Award for a lifetime of blues, jazz and rock excellence.

The Stones also won two awards. But Jagger focused attention on the shy Watts, insisting he say a few words to acknowledge his special honor.

The beautifully dressed drummer managed a brief “thank you” to the crowd at Shoreditch Town Hall.

The event included a tribute to jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald on what would have been her 100th birthday.