Monday, November 16, 2009
Last updated on October 28, 2020
Previous article October 2009 • Photo shoot for Q magazine
Interview Nov 11, 2009 • Paul McCartney interview for paulmccartney.com
Concert Nov 12, 2009 • Children In Need
Article Nov 16, 2009 • Paul McCartney to receive Congress Gershwin Prize
Article Nov 17, 2009 • "Good Evening New York City" DVD released in the US
Live album Nov 17, 2009 • "Good Evening New York City" by Paul McCartney released in the UK
From paulmccartney.com, November 16, 2009:
Music Legend Paul McCartney Named Recipient of Third Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington today named music legend Paul McCartney as the recipient of the third Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. An all-star tribute concert is planned for spring 2010.
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.
The prize commemorates George and Ira Gershwin, the legendary American songwriting team whose extensive manuscript collections reside in the Library of Congress. The prize is awarded to musicians whose lifetime contributions in the field of popular song exemplify the standard of excellence associated with the Gershwins. The Gershwin 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.
The first Gershwin Prize was awarded in May 2007 to Paul Simon, and the second to Stevie Wonder in February 2009. The two concerts were broadcast nationally on PBS and featured musical performances by Tony Bennett, James Taylor, Alison Krauss, Marc Anthony, Martina McBride, Diana Krall, Will.i.am, and Art Garfunkel among others. Stevie
Wonder’s prize festivities also included the performance of a special commission, Sketches of a Life in the Librarys Coolidge Auditorium.It is hard to think of another performer and composer who has had a more indelible and transformative effect on popular song and music of several different genres than Paul McCartney said Librarian of Congress James H. Billington, who made the selection.
Notice any inaccuracies on this page? Have additional insights or ideas for new content? Or just want to share your thoughts? We value your feedback! Please use the form below to get in touch with us.