For Release: 2009-02-20 12:03:00
Stevie Wonder In Performance at the White House: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize showcases an evening of celebration with President and Mrs. Obama at the White House in honor of the musician's receipt of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. The concert, which airs Thursday, Feb. 26 at 9/8 p.m. CT on KET1, includes performances by Wonder along with Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, Martina McBride, Esperanza Spalding, Will.i.am and the gospel duo Mary Mary, among others.Wonder gained prominence in the early 1960s as a musical prodigy, and over the years has delivered 32 No. 1 R&B and Pop singles, 49 Top 40 R&B and Pop singles, and garnered 25 Grammy Awards, as well as the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996. He was inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame in 2002, and in 2004 he won the Johnny Mercer Award in recognition of a lifetime of outstanding creative work. His numerous hits include "Fingertips," "For Once in My Life," "My Cherie Amour," "Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours," "If You Really Love Me" and "You are the Sunshine of My Life."
The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song is named in honor of the legendary George and Ira Gershwin. This award recognizes the positive effect of popular music on the world's culture. President Obama will confer the Gershwin Prize upon Wonder during the event.
Stevie Wonder In Performance at the White House: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize is a production of WETA/Washington, D.C. More information about KET programming and education services, as well as how to support KET, can be found at www.ket.org.
Contact: Amanda Stroud
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