13 October 2010 Last updated at 13:32 ET

Hollies' singer Graham Nash appointed OBE

Nash has lived in Hawaii for more than 30 years

Graham Nash has been appointed OBE for his remarkable career in music.

Nash, 68, who found success with the Hollies and then Crosby, Stills and Nash, was at Buckingham Palace to receive the OBE from the Queen.

The singer, who grew up in Salford but has lived in Hawaii for more than 30 years, got the award for services to music and charitable activities.

Speaking after the ceremony he said it was a highlight of his life and his parents would have been very proud.

"Receiving this was very profound," he said.

"I'm from Salford, from a very poor family and to have been on the journey I've been on since I was 13 years old, when I wanted to be a musician - (the OBE) it's a highlight of my life.

"This is my country and my Queen gave me an honour - it's a stunning experience."

Nash's family were based in Salford but his mother headed to Blackpool to give birth, due to the constant threat of air raids around Manchester during World War II.

'Incredibly proud'

He met future bandmate Allan Clarke at school and as teenagers they performed around Manchester as The Two Teens.

By December 1962 they had formed The Hollies, and had hits including Just One Look, Bus Stop and Carrie Anne.

He left the UK in 1968 for LA, where he formed a band with former Buffalo Springfield guitarist Stephen Stills and ex-Byrds star David Crosby to form one of the first supergroups.

Neil Young later joined the band to form Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, and they were among headliners at the famous 1969 music festival Woodstock.

Nash was appointed OBE in the diplomatic and overseas list, having taken US citizenship in 1978.

He said he paid the Queen a compliment during Wednesday's ceremony.

"I told her how beautiful she looked and we talked about the Hollies," he said.

"I told her I'd moved away 40 years ago and didn't think anybody was watching and she said 'now you know'."

He added: "The thing I thought about greatly, standing in line, was what my mother and father would feel.

"They're both dead many years but I think they would have been incredibly proud and I told the Queen that - that she did my mother and father a great honour."