Super-producer Daniel Lanois was recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hamilton Music Awards. The Awards are a new annual event to recognize musical achievements by artists in the Hamilton, Ontario area of Canada.

A native of Hamilton, Lanois has gone on to become one of the most revered producers of the past two decades. Most notably his work behind the board has included such classic albums as Peter Gabriel's So and Us, Oh Mercy and Time Out Of Mind by Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson's Teatro, Wrecking Ball by Emmylou Harris, and perhaps most famously for co-producing almost every U2 album since The Unforgettable Fire (all except for Pop). In addition, he has enjoyed a critically acclaimed solo recording career, with four albums to date, most recently his instrumental release Belladonna.

Along with his acceptance of the Dofasco Lifetime Achievement Award, Lanois also received awards for Best Producer, Best Guitarist, and Best Instrumental Recording, for Belladonna.

As part of the festivities, U2 interrupted their sold out concert in Atlanta, GA to send a special message of appreciation to Lanois, their longtime friend and producer. "We want to do a TV broadcast right now to Hamilton in Canada," U2 lead vocalist Bono told 18,000 fans at Atlanta's Phillips Arena last Friday night. "It is the place where Daniel Lanois grew up. We love Danny boy Lanois and without him we would not be here."

You can find more information on Daniel Lanois, as well as an audio stream of Bono's well wishes from Atlanta, at DanielLanois.com.