PAUL SIMON - SIMON HONOURED WITH SONGWRITER PRIZE

PAUL SIMON is to be honoured by the US Library of Congress for his impressive catalogue of work. The SIMON + GARFUNKEL star will be the recipient of the first annual Gershwin Prize for Popular Song at a gala in May (23MAY07). The newly-created honour will be given to a composer or performer whose lifetime contributions "exemplify the standard of excellence associated with (GEORGE and IRA) GERSHWIN." In a statement, Simon writes, "I am grateful to be the recipient of the Gershwin Prize and doubly honored to be the first. I look forward to spending an evening in the company of artists I admire at the award ceremony in May... It's a songwriter's dream come true." Earlier this year (07), Simon's 1986 album GRACELAND was among the additions to the Library's National Recording Registry.