Elton John and Bernie Taupin, one of the great songwriting duos of all time, will be awarded the 2024 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
The prize is named for another legendary songwriting team, George and Ira Gershwin, whose papers are held by the Library.
John and Taupin will be honored with a tribute concert in Washington, D.C., that will premiere on PBS stations nationwide on April 8 at 8 p.m. ET.
Announcing the award , Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said, “Elton John and Bernie Taupin have written some of the most memorable songs of our lives. Their careers stand out for the quality and broad appeal of their music and their influence on their fellow artists.”
“More than 50 years ago, they came from across the pond to win over Americans and audiences worldwide with their beautiful songs and rock anthems,” she added. “We’re proud to honor Elton and Bernie with the Gershwin Prize for their incredible impact on generations of music lovers.”
“Your Song,” “Tiny Dancer,” “Rocket Man,” “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” are just a few songs they wrote together that became timeless standards. Not to mention the fun they had with “Bennie and The Jets” and “Crocodile Rock,” which became their first No. 1 single in the U.S. in 1973.
“I’ve been writing songs with Bernie for 56 years, and we never thought that that one day this might be bestowed upon us,” Elton said. “It’s an incredible honor for two British guys to be recognized like this. I’m so honored.”
“To be in a house along with the great American songwriters, to even be in the same avenue is humbling, and I am absolutely thrilled to accept,” Taupin said.
Today, John is among the top-selling solo artists of all time with more than 70 Top 40 hits over the course of six decades.
While their work has been intertwined for decades as co-writers, Taupin often preferred to stay behind the scenes.
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