Sir Paul McCartney to Receive Gershwin Prize from Barack Obama, 6/2

On June 2, 2010, former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney will appear and perform in the East Room at the White House, the Telegraph reported on Monday. President Barack Obama will present McCartney with the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, awarded by the Library of Congress.  The prize, named for American songwriting brothers George and Ira Gershwin, has been awarded annually since 2008 to a musician who has made exceptional contributions to the world of popular song.  The prize's first recipient was Paul Simon.  Last year, Stevie Wonder received the award. 

Last week, McCartney implied in a webcast that he was to perform at the White House, saying, 'If there is an announcement, remember where you heard it first.'

Born in Liverpool, England in 1942, McCartney helped change the world of music as a member of The Beatles, contributing to such legendary albums as 'Please Please Me,' 'Revolver,' 'Help!,' 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,' and 'The White Album.' Since the breakup of The Beatles, McCartney has worked both as a solo artist, producing albums such as 'Memory Almost Full,' and with the group Wings, producing albums including 'Band On The Run' and 'Wings at The Speed Of Sound.'  Most recently he received critical acclaim as 'The Fireman' (a collaborative project between McCartney and producer Youth) with their 2008 'Electric Arguments' album.  Paul McCartney is also an accomplished, award-winning classical composer.  McCartney was awarded a special Outstanding Contribution Award at the 2008 BRIT Awards at Earls Court in London and presented with an honorary doctorate of music by Yale University.  McCartney was appointed Fellow of The Royal College of Music in 1995 by The Prince of Wales and was knighted for his services to music by H.M. the Queen of England in 1996.  For more information, visit The Library of Congress' website.

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