Last week, we reported that Clint Eastwood, 94, was set to receive a leadership award at the Monterey Jazz Festival on Sunday. There, Clint’s son Kyle took the stage to honor his father in a beautiful way as he led the Eastwood Symphonic Project in a stirring performance.
Kyle Honors His Father With Powerful Performance
Kyle’s performance showcased music from some of Clint’s most beloved films. These movies included Gran Torino, Letters from Iwo Jima, Flags of Our Fathers and Bridges of Madison County.
“It’s an homage to him and his career,” Kyle, 56, told KSBW.
This was a particularly special performance for Kyle, as Clint has been bringing him to the Monterey Jazz Festival ever since he was a child.
“I could see him,” said Kyle Eastwood. “He’s been sitting in those seats for many, many years, so I knew where to look.”
Kyle is the son of Clint and his first wife Maggie Johnson, who he was married to from 1953 until they divorced in 1984.
“Both my mom and dad are big fans of jazz — that was sort of the music they were always listening to,” Kyle explained. “There was always a lot of music in the house growing up for me … movies and music.”
Watch Kyle talk about the Eastwood Symphonic Project:
Related: Clint Eastwood, 94, To Be Given Leadership Award By Morgan Freeman, 87
Clint ‘Looked Happy’ During Kyle’s Performance
Kyle led the performance with his quintet and the Monterey Symphony Orchestra. It combined jazz with classical elements, giving it a true cinematic feel. Just like the movies!
“It’s the intersection of Clint Eastwood, who represents so much of our mythology and our storytelling. He’s sort of been an arbiter and architect of our storytelling American culture,” said Darin Atwater, artistic director of the Monterey Jazz Festival. “And, to sort of intersect that with his son, Kyle, who’s a musician and has his own jazz quintet.”
Clint couldn’t help but smile as he watched his son perform this touching tribute to his cinematic efforts.
“I saw him out there … he looked happy,” Kyle gushed. “He looked like he’s having a good time.”
Check out this short clip of the performance:
Related: Clint Eastwood Gave This One Powerful Piece Of Advice To His Actor Son Scott
Clint Receives Award From Morgan Freeman
During the Monterey Jazz Festival, Clint was presented with the inaugural Cultural Leadership Award by his good friend Morgan Freeman, 87.
“To have these two titans come together with Morgan Freeman … makes this moment monumental,” said Atwater.
Clint and Morgan have been friends for decades. Clint has cast Morgan in many of his movies, starting with the 1992 film Unforgiven, which won the Oscar for Best Picture. Morgan later won his only Oscar for his supporting turn in Clint’s 2004 movie Million Dollar Baby, which also won the Best Picture Oscar.
“I think Clint is an actor’s director,” Morgan once told RTE. “He doesn’t direct actors…he directs movies. He hires actors, and it’s your job. And I love that about him that you establish your own character; you play it and do what the scene calls for. [He’ll] have the scene set up.”
“Cameras will be where we want them to be,” he added. “Lights will be where we want them to be. And go for it. “He never says action, and he never says cut. He’s his own person on a movie set. Wonderful.”
Clint has always been a hands-on father to Kyle and his seven other children. While Clint has yet to speak out about Kyle’s tribute to him, we’re sure that he was incredibly touched by it!
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