Jazz icon Herbie Hancock has been appointed a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador.
The celebrated musician, founder of The International Committee of Artists for Peace, was named the organisation's latest celebrity ambassador for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) on Friday (22Jul11).
Discussing his new role, Hancock tells the Associated Press, "It feels like an answer to some of my biggest dreams. (Unesco) really cares about working toward the globalised peaceful world that people actually want to live in."
And the pianist has already outlined his first few missions as a Goodwill Ambassador - he wants to establish an International Jazz Day.
Hancock joins Hollywood actor Forest Whitaker as a Unesco ambassador.