President Barack Obama will present the Library of Congress’s second Gershwin Prize for Popular Song to Motown legend Stevie Wonder tomorrow night at a special concert in the East Room of the White House in celebration of Black History Month. Artists Martina McBride, Tony Bennett, Will.I.am, and others will perform with Wonder at the gala event, which will air on PBS stations Thursday at 8 p.m. The guest list includes record producers and musicians who have worked with Wonder over his long career.
The award was created by the library to honor artists whose “creative output transcends distinctions between musical styles and idioms, bringing diverse listeners together, and fostering mutual understanding and appreciation,” according to a press release. “Wonder is the epitome of what the Gershwin Prize stands for," said Librarian of Congress James H. Billington, who selected Wonder for the honor in September.
The prize commemorates the songwriting team of George and Ira Gershwin, whose manuscript collection resides in the nation’s library. Paul Simon received the first Gershwin Prize in 2007.
