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June 21 (UPI) -- Tony Bennett will receive the prestigious Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in 2017. The Library of Congress will honor the 90-year-old singer at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., in November for his lifetime contributions to popular song, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced in a press release Tuesday.
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"Tony Bennett is one of the most accomplished and beloved artists of our time," she lauded. "His staying power is a testament to the enduring appeal of the Great American Songbook the Gershwins helped write, and his ability to collaborate with new generations of music icons has been a gift to music lovers of all ages."
Bennett joins the ranks of previous Gershwin Prize winners Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder and Carole King. The award recognizes artists who promote popular song as "a vehicle of cultural understanding; entertaining and informing audiences; and inspiring new generations."
"I am thrilled to be receiving The Gershwin Prize this year - it is an absolute honor for me!" Bennett tweeted.
Bennett is a 19-time Grammy winner who received Kennedy Center Honors in 2005. He released his debut studio album, Because of You, in 1952, and last released The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern in 2015. His album with Lady Gaga, Cheek to Cheek, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 the year previous.
