Ozzy's influence on culture to be recognized with award

The family of legendary rock musician Ozzy Osbourne will receive a prestigious award recognizing his influence on Birminghams musical and cultural heritage. The Lord Mayors Award, one of the citys top civic distinctions, will be presented posthumously on Wednesday, coinciding with what would have been Osbournes 77th birthday.

A book of condolences, signed by fans from around the world, will also be handed to his family during the private ceremony. A representative of the Osbourne family commented, "Ozzy was deeply cherished in Birmingham, and it is wonderful to see how his legacy continues to inspire new generations of Brummies."

In July, thousands of fans visited Birmingham to honor Osbourne, who passed away shortly after Black Sabbath's final homecoming concert at Villa Park. Born and raised in Aston, Osbourne gained international fame both as the lead singer of Black Sabbath and later as a solo artist, achieving a level of success surpassing that of the band. He died at 76, only 17 days after Black Sabbaths farewell performance, and his coffin was accompanied through Birmingham by throngs of supporters.

Since July, nearly 400,000 people have visited the "Working Class Hero" exhibition dedicated to him at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Zafar Iqbal MBE, said, "Ozzy was and will always be a proud son of Birmingham. Even after achieving worldwide fame, he never forgot his Brummie roots. It is a privilege to honor his family with this award in recognition of his immense contributions to our city. Ozzy forever!"

This award follows the June recognition of all four original members of Black SabbathOzzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Terence "Geezer" Butler, and Bill Wardwho were granted the Freedom of the City of Birmingham.

Author: Sophia Brooks