Gershwin Prize
The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song is an award given to a composer or performer for their lifetime contributions to popular music. Created in 2007 by the United States Library of Congress, the prize is named after brothers George and Ira Gershwin, whose contributions to popular music included songs such as "I Got Rhythm," "Embraceable You," and "Someone to Watch Over Me," the orchestral pieces Rhapsody in Blue and An American in Paris, and the opera Porgy and Bess.
History
The national prize for popular song, eventually named the Gershwin Prize, was created by Peter Kaminsky, Bob Kaminsky, Cappy McGarr, Mark Krantz, and Dalton Delan, subsequent to their creation of the national humor award, the Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize. The project was presented to the Librarian, James Billington in 2003. The executive producers then secured a partnership with WETA, PBS, and CPB. The Librarian bestowed the first award in 2007 to recognize "the profound and positive effect of popular music on the world’s culture" as part of the Library's mission to recognize and celebrate creativity. The recipient of the Gershwin Prize is said to "exemplify the standard of excellence associated with the Gershwins." In selecting the honoree, the Librarian of Congress works with staff of the Library's Music Division as well as the broader music community.On March 1, 2007, the Library announced Paul Simon as the first honoree of the new award, which joins other awards bestowed by the Library including the Living Legend and Kluge Prize. Simon received the Prize during a concert gala featuring his music at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C., on the evening of May 23, 2007. The event was nationally broadcast on PBS the evening of June 27, 2007. Performers included Yolanda Adams, Marc Anthony, Shawn Colvin, The Dixie Hummingbirds, Jessy Dixon and the Jessy Dixon Singers, Jerry Douglas, Philip Glass, Alison Krauss, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Lyle Lovett, Stephen Marley, Dianne Reeves, James Taylor, Stevie Wonder, and Buckwheat Zydeco, as well as Simon's former collaborator Art Garfunkel.
On September 3, 2008, the Library announced that Stevie Wonder would become the second recipient of the honor. President Barack Obama presented Wonder with the Library of Congress' Gershwin Prize at a February 25, 2009 White House ceremony. Performers included Wonder as well as India.Arie, Tony Bennett, Wayne Brady, Anita Johnson, Diana Krall, Mary Mary, Martina McBride, Rickey Minor, Paul Simon, Esperanza Spalding and will.i.am.
On November 18, 2009, the Library announced Sir Paul McCartney as the third recipient of the honor. The ceremony for McCartney was held June 2, 2010, in the East Room of the White House with President Obama and Mrs. Obama in attendance. Performers included McCartney as well as Stevie Wonder, Elvis Costello, Jonas Brothers, Herbie Hancock, Corinne Bailey Rae, Dave Grohl, Faith Hill, Emmylou Harris, Lang Lang and Jack White, with remarks by Jerry Seinfeld.
On September 27, 2011, the Library announced Burt Bacharach and Hal David as the fourth recipients of the honor. The presentation ceremony was May 9, 2012, during a White House tribute concert with the President and Mrs. Obama in attendance. Performers included Stevie Wonder, Diana Krall, Lyle Lovett, Sheléa, Rumer, Sheryl Crow, Mike Myers, Arturo Sandoval, and Michael Feinstein, who spoke of Ira Gershwin's admiration of the pair's songs. The singer most closely associated with the Bacharach-David songbook, Dionne Warwick, sang “This Guy’s in Love With You” which was not included in the PBS broadcast.
On December 13, 2012, Carole King became the honoree of the fifth Gershwin Prize, the first time it was awarded to a woman composer.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013, The Library hosted an invitation-only concert at Coolidge Auditorium in honor of King. The all-star tribute included performances by Siedah Garrett, Colbie Caillat, Gian Marco, Shelby Lynne, Patti Austin, Arturo Sandoval and King's daughter, Louise Goffin.
The following night at the White House, the First Family joined King and star performers including James Taylor, Gloria Estefan, Emeli Sandé, Trisha Yearwood, Jesse McCartney and Billy Joel.
On July 22, 2014, Billy Joel was announced as the sixth honoree of the Gershwin Prize, named by the Librarian of Congress under advisement of Library of Congress subject matter experts and an expanded advisory board that included Mary Chapin Carpenter, Wesley Bulla, Anthony DeCurtis, Emilio Estefan, Gregg Field, Ed Hardy, Joel Katz, Stinson Liles, Rickey Minor, Neil Portnow, Karen Sherry, Michael Strunsky and Michelynn Woodard. The honor ceremony along with a concert was held in Washington D.C. at DAR Constitution Hall November 19, 2014, and aired by PBS January 2, 2015. Kevin Spacey acted as emcee and Twyla Tharp and Sir Paul McCartney gave special verbal tributes. Performers included Boyz II Men, Leann Rimes, Josh Groban, Gavin DeGraw, Michael Feinstein, Natalie Maines, John Mellencamp and Tony Bennett. Joel ended the night by performing four songs: "Miami 2017 ", "Vienna", "You May Be Right", and "Movin' Out ". The show's finale was Kevin Spacey leading the performers singing "Piano Man".
Willie Nelson was named the 2015 honoree.The two-day celebration began with a presentation and special display on Tuesday, November 18, 2015 in the Library’s historic Thomas Jefferson Building with a group of the nation’s lawmakers, who recognized Nelson for his contributions to popular music. The Library of Congress recognized Willie Nelson as the honoree of the seventh Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Nelson was the first country music singer-songwriter to be awarded the prize. Smokey Robinson was named the 2016 honoree.
Tony Bennett was the 2017 honoree.
The celebration for the beloved 91 year old singer-songwriter began Wednesday afternoon November 15, 2017 and was hosted by Bruce Willis in the Jefferson Building. There was no honoree in 2018. The 2019 honorees of the prize were the husband and wife team of Emilio Estefan and Gloria Estefan. They received the prize in March 2019 at an all-star tribute concert in Washington, D.C. The concert aired on PBS stations nationwide.
Garth Brooks was the 2020 honoree; he is the youngest recipient of the prize to date.