Billy Joel Awarded Gershwin Prize From Library of Congress

Each year, the Library of Congress honors the career of one popular musician and their dedication to "promoting the genre of song as a vehicle of cultural understanding; entertaining and informing audiences; and inspiring new generations" with the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. This year's recipient is Billy Joel.

A press statement from the Library of Congress' James H. Billington called the six-time Grammy winner and member of the Rock and Roll and Songwriters Halls of Fame "a storyteller of the highest order."

"The great composer, George Gershwin, has been a personal inspiration to me throughout my career," Joel said in the statement. "And the Library's decision to include me among those songwriters who have been past recipients is a milestone for me."

Having been in the music industry for 50 years, Joel is the sixth top-selling artist of all time and the third top-selling solo artist of all time, the statement noted.

The Gershwin Prize is one of many milestones for the musician who made history with his one-of-a-kind residency at Madison Square Garden, where he's committed to playing once a month for the indefinite future. He also was the first American pop star to bring a full rock production to the Soviet Union back in 1987 and recently released a documentary about the two-week tour.

Previous recipients of the Gershwin Prize include Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Burt Bacharach, and the late Hal David. Last year, Carole King became the first woman to receive the award.

Joel will receive the prize this November in Washington D.C., where he will be honored in a series of events, including an honoree's luncheon and musical performances.

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