Stevie Wonder To Receive Gershwin Prize

September 3, 2008 2:37 p.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (CNS) - Legendary musician Stevie Wonder has been named the winner of the second Gershwin Prize for Popular Song by The Library of Congress.

In his lifetime, Wonder has been awarded with 25 Grammy Awards, the Kennedy Center Honors, an Oscar and several lifetime achievement awards and he will now be adding one more to the long running list.

Wonder is honored with the award, saying in a statement, "It's an immense privilege to join such a remarkable roster of musicians and composers. I am touched to receive this honor and look forward to creating music for the celebration."

Wonder will be presented with the award on February 23 in the Library's Great Hall during a star studded celebrity-filled event.

James Billington, the Librarian of Congress, talked about the award saying in a statement, "The Gershwin Prize was created to honor an artist whose creative output transcends distinctions between musical styles and idioms, bringing diverse listeners together, and fostering mutual understanding and appreciation. Stevie Wonder's music epitomizes this ideal."

The Gershwin Prize was established as a tribute to the lives of composer sibling George and Ira Gershwin. In 2007, Paul Simon was the first artist to receive the prize. Wonder was also one of the artists who performed one of Simon's songs at the celebration concert.