Paul McCartney says honoured to receive top US music award

WASHINGTON, (Reuters Life!) – Paul McCartney said yesterday he was honoured to be receiving one of the United  States’ most important music awards, the Library of Congress’  Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

To mark the occasion a lineup of stars including Stevie  Wonder, the Jonas Brothers, Herbie Hancock and Elvis Costello  will pay tribute to the former Beatle in a concert at the White  House on Wednesday presided over by President Barack Obama.    McCartney is the first non-American recipient of the award  that has only been given twice before — to Paul Simon in 2007  and to Stevie Wonder in 2009.

“It’s fantastic for me to be here because as a little kid  I grew up listening to the music of the Gershwin Brothers and  loved it and had no idea, of course, that one day I might be in  such a place, getting an honor such as this,” McCartney told a  news conference in Washington on Tuesday.

“I wouldn’t have believed you if you told me as a kid  growing up in Liverpool that this would happen. So it’s very  special for me.”

The award created by the Library of Congress celebrates  McCartney’s music career that spans over five decades from his  years with The Beatles to his current solo output.

It was named to honor the American songwriting team of  brothers George and Ira Gershwin and “recognizes musicians  whose careers reflect a lifetime achievement in promoting song  as a vehicle of artistic expression and cultural  understanding.”