of his significant contributions to the arts 2006 – Europe's prestigious jazz award, the Django d'Or 2006 – The W.C. Handy Heritage Master & Legend Award 2005 – The Armenian Professional Society, Professional of the Year 2003 – Man of the Year Award, The Sidney Bechet Society 2000 – A Lifetime Achievement award from Down Beat magazine 1996 – Grammy Award for "Best Album Notes - Miles Davis & Gil Evans - The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings" 1998 – The Benny Carter Award from the American Federation of Jazz Societies 1990 – The Order of Lenin, the Soviet Union's highest state order. 1981 – President's Citation, New Jersey Jazz Society 1984 – Knighthood from the Knights of Malta References External links Article about Avakian Interview with Avakian in 5 parts George Avakian and Anahid Ajemian papers, 1908-2013 Music Division, The New York Public Library. Interview with George Avakian, December 2009 George Avakian Interview NAMM Oral History Library (2009) 1919 births 2017 deaths People from Armavir, Russia Soviet Armenians Soviet emigrants to the United States American record producers American people of Armenian descent Grammy Award winners