GRAMMY-AWARD winning singer-songwriter Billy Joel, who penned hit tunes such as “Piano Man” and “New York State of Mind,” will receive the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, the U.S. national library said Tuesday.
Joel, 65, is the sixth recipient of the prize that honors individuals for lifetime achievement in popular music. It is named after songwriting brothers George and Ira Gershwin.
Joel, whose career has spanned 50 years, is one of the most popular recording artists and has had 33 top-40 hits. His multiple Grammy wins include song and album of the year in 1978 for “Just the Way You Are.” He was also presented with a Grammy Legend Award in 1990 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.
The prize will be given in Washington, D.C. in November. Carole King, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Sir Paul McCartney and the songwriting duo Burt Bacharach and the late Hal David are previous recipients of the award.
(SD-Agencies)
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