WASHINGTON (AP) — The Library of Congress is honoring Billy Joel with its Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
Librarian James Billington said Tuesday that the singer-songwriter whose hits include “Piano Man” and “Uptown Girl” will receive the prize in Washington in November.
The Gershwin Prize honors a living artist’s lifetime achievement in music. Previous recipients are Paul Simon; Stevie Wonder; Sir Paul McCartney; the songwriting duo of Burt Bacharach and the late Hal David; and Carole King.
Joel is among the world’s most popular recording artists. He has said that his piano-driven compositions spring from personal experiences, and that he strives to write songs that capture and transcend those moments.
With a career spanning 50 years in the entertainment industry, Joel is the sixth top-selling artist of all time.
