Overview

• Bavarian state leaders Markus Söder and Arts Minister Markus Blume honored the 72-year-old with the prize for special merits in science and the arts.
• At the Nürnberg event, Mandoki said he is "eternally grateful" to Bavaria for the chances he received.
• He recalled applying for asylum about 50 years ago in nearby Zirndorf shortly after arriving from Budapest.
• In recent weeks he produced an Oktoberfest version of “Sweet Caroline” with Söder, sung by the CSU leader at Mandoki’s Lake Starnberg studios.
• Mandoki forged a long career as a producer with stars such as Lionel Richie and Phil Collins and leads the Mandoki Soulmates with musicians including Al Di Meola, Ian Anderson, Till Brönner, Mike Stern and John Helliwell.