Paul Simon gearing up for award ceremony

Paul Simon is gearing up for Wednesday night's (May 22nd) award ceremony in Washington, D.C., when the Library of Congress awards him the first annual Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. The event will include an all-star gala concert in Simon's honor at the Warner Theatre. Among the artists who will be on hand are Marc Anthony, Philip Glass, Alison Krauss, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Lyle Lovett, Buckwheat Zydeco, James Taylor, and Art Garfunkel.

Simon told The Washington Post that he's humbled at the tribute's lineup, explaining that, "From a songwriter's perspective, it's a dream come true, really, to have that many gifted people go and do a version of one of your songs. Also, the choices of the songs are pretty interesting."

Simon explained that although he pretty much selected the songs to be performed, he was open to other suggestions: "The only thing I said was, 'Artie is going to sing "Bridge Over Troubled Water.' It really belongs with Artie; historically and in this particular context, I couldn't see anyone else but Artie on that."

Art Garfunkel says that he's yet to lose his passion for performing the song live in concert: [ Click to listen if you have a backstage pass] "I do 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' in the same key I always did, and when I'm pumped and really in the mood, I kinda wanna take it higher than I ever used to. So, I'm hear to say, as long as the fires are going inside; fire's fire, the life force is the life force. It does not age, it's a constant."

The Library of Congress's newly created honor celebrates an artist's catalogue of work and "will be given annually to a composer or performer whose lifetime contributions exemplify the standard of excellence associated with (George and Ira) Gershwin."

The event will be broadcast on June 27th on PBS stations in America.
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