Multi-awarded American musician and producer Quincy Jones was given an esteemed cultural award by France on Monday, October 6. Jones was bestowed with the Order of Arts and Letters, which is a highly important honor given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts.

The 81-year-old also received the Commander of the Legion of Honour, which is considered France’s highest civil award, in 2001, making this year’s award his second from France. Jones used to work in Paris during the 1950s, which may have been the beginning of strong ties he has established with the European country.

Quincy Jones honoured with top French award http://t.co/EEv1KyPRHN pic.twitter.com/itqeoY7Sg0

— FRANCE 24 (@FRANCE24) October 6, 2014

Jones, who is also nicknamed “Q,” received the Order of Arts and Letters from France’s former culture minister, Jack Lang. After receiving the honor, Jones praised the country that had so generously recognized his work.

“It’s thanks to France that jazz is what it is today. Even though I’m American, France is in my heart,” Jones said.

Jones lauded France’s contribution to a genre that embraced his abilities as a jazz trumpet player. As a musician and producer, Jones has worked with big names in the music industry over a career that has spanned 60 years. His collaborators were esteemed artists in a variety of musical genres, with names including Jacques Brel, Frank Sinatra, Charles Aznavour, Barbara Streisand, Ray Charles, Count Basie, Henri Salvador, Duke Ellington and Michael Jackson.

Jones has won 27 Grammy Awards and garnered a record 79 Grammy nominations. The music legend was also given a Grammy Legend Award in 1991 for his great contribution to the music industry. Jones was one of two of the first African Americans to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1968 for a tune called “The Eyes of Love,” which was penned for the Universal Pictures film Banning.