Paul Simon to obtain PEN America’s Literary Service Award
NEW YORK — Paul Simon’s newest honor locations him amongst public figures nicely exterior the music business. He’s this yr’s winner of PEN America’s PEN/Audible Literary Service Award, which beforehand has been given to former President Barack Obama, the late Nobel laureate Toni Morrison and Stephen King amongst others.
The 82-year-old Simon is thought for such traditional songs as “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “The Sound of Silence” and for his globe-spanning musical tastes, from Brazil to South Africa to his native New York Metropolis. Later this month, he can be featured within the MGM+ docuseries “In Stressed Goals: The Music of Paul Simon.”
“Paul Simon has impressed followers worldwide with lyrics and songs that complete generations know by coronary heart and might acknowledge from the very first notes,” PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel mentioned in a press release Thursday. “His fascination with completely different cultures, traditions and rhythms have helped open our ears and minds to important musical traditions. We’re elated to pay tribute to this unparalleled inventive artist whose music, alongside together with his dedication to humane values and humanitarian causes, has made him a cultural icon.”
Simon will obtain his award at PEN’s annual gala, to be held Might 16 on the American Museum of Pure Historical past in Manhattan. Final yr, PEN introduced the literary prize to a longtime pal of Simon’s, “Saturday Night time Stay” creator Lorne Michaels.
On Thursday, PEN additionally introduced it was presenting its Enterprise Visionary award to Almar Latour, CEO of Dow Jones and writer of The Wall Avenue Journal. PEN, a outstanding advocate at no cost expression, cited his efforts to deliver concerning the launch of Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been held in Russia for practically a yr on allegations of espionage.
“At a time when info and reality are in query, the Wall Avenue Journal’s function as a supply of credible, reported information is indispensable,” PEN President Jennifer Finney Boylan mentioned in a press release. “Almar’s dedication to delivering trusted information and knowledge and constructing sustainable information operations is a lifelong calling. His fierce help for press freedom and for Evan has been inspiring.”
Gershkovich’s dad and mom are scheduled to be in attendance Thursday when President Joe Biden delivers his annual State of the Union deal with. Ella Milman and Mikhail Gershkovich had been invited by Home Speaker Mike Johnson.
