McCartney Named Next Recipient of Gershwin Prize for Popular Song

Honorable Man

Librarian of Congress JAMES H. BILLINGTON has named music legend PAUL MCCARTNEY as the recipient of the third Library of Congress GERSHWIN PRIZE FOR POPULAR SONG. The prize is awarded to musicians whose lifetime contributions in the field of popular song exemplify the standard of excellence associated with the GEORGE and IRA GERSHWIN. 

The prize is also meant to draw attention to the musical collections in the Library of Congress, especially the vast popular-music collection, and to encourage students, teachers, scholars and researchers to use this free public resource in their scholarly investigations.

"As a great admirer of the GERSHWINS’ songs, I am highly honored to be given the GERSHWIN PRIZE by such a great institution as the Library of Congress," MCCARTNEY said of the honor.

The first GERSHWIN PRIZE was awarded in MAY 2007 to PAUL SIMON, and the second to STEVIE WONDER in FEBRUARY 2009.

An all-star tribute concert is being planned for spring 2010.

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