Carole King is going to be hosted by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in the East Room of the White House on Wednesday. And the reason for this honor is King’s recent win of the “2013 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.” The White House reception is a celebration of Ms. King for her contributions to the American the music industry.
President Obama will be personally presenting the award to Ms. King. There will also be a concert featuring the most important singer-songwriter of the night together with other veteran musicians such as Billy Joel, James Taylor, Gloria Estefan, Emeli Sande, Trisha Yearwood and Jesse McCartney. Reports indicate that the concert can be viewed live at the White House website and it will also be seen on PBS stations next week.
King is the “Queen of the Night”
Carole King, now 71 years old, has written and sang landmark songs that even other famous artists had covered. According to James Billington, a member of the Library of Congress, King made a huge mark in the music industry and became very influential due to the fact that her songs were recorded by important artists, from The Beatles to Aretha Franklin. Billington also added that when The Beatles first came to America, the first person they wanted to meet was none other than Carole King. Performers of her time as well as modern entertainers today consider Carole King as one of the best singer-songwriters ever to have existed.
New song
According to King, she plans to unveil her new song, “I Believe In Loving You” at the concert proper. The song was the brainchild of Carole King and the late great Hal David. According to King, the song was really intended to give a romantic vibe that is perfectly suited to weddings. She also praised the lyrics written by co-writer Hal David and told the Associated Press that Hal’s word will surely live on for the rest of eternity.
Cultivating ingenuity
The Gershwin Prize is an award given to exemplary artists. According to Billington, who first started giving out this award in 2007, the Gershwin Prize is a symbol given to talented people that serve to amplify their creativity. The prize not only carries with it prestige but it also lets everyone know that the person chosen to receive the award possesses the traits of a phenomenal artist.
Choosing the winner
Like any other award-giving body, the Library of Congress follows its own procedure when it comes to selecting the winner. The winner of the Gershwin Prize is not chosen but just board nor determined by a simple vote or a survey. According to the Library of Congress, a board is selected from a wide selection of professionals who are all involved or related to the music industry. The board needs to be credible enough to represent the entirety of the popular music arena. The members may be composed of scholars, producers, songwriters, critics, specialist or any other qualified individual who may or may not be part of the Library of Congress.
Photo Credit: Carole King
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