2011 Gershwin Award

[PongHit]

Gershwin Award

In recognition of their contributions to American music and in honor of their gift to UCLA, the UCLA Student Alumni Association established the annual George and Ira Gershwin Award for Lifetime Musical Achievement in 1988.

2011 Recipient:

Brian Wilson

Writer, Producer and Co-founder of the Beach Boys

Brian Wilson is one of popular music's most deeply revered figures and influential composers, creating some of the most cherished recordings in rock history. Raised in Hawthorne, California, he was barely out of his teens in the early 60s when his journey began towards nine consecutive gold albums that featured such classics as Surfer Girl, In My Room, I Get Around, Don’t Worry Baby, Fun, Fun, Fun, Help Me Rhonda, Sloop John B, Wouldn’t It Be Nice, God Only Knows, Caroline No, Surfs Up, California Girls and Good Vibrations...just to name a few of the Top 40 hits Wilson co-wrote, arranged, produced and performed with his family band, the Beach Boys.

The 1990s reissue of Pet Sounds and Good Vibrations on CD, Wilson’s most popular Beach Boys albums brought a new generation to the music, pushing it to platinum status. He brought the music back to the stage in the late 90s, earning him several honors including induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, an All-Star Tribute at Radio City Music Hall and America’s highest artistic tribute - The Kennedy Center Honors. In 2004, the release of his highly anticipated solo album Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE earned Wilson his first Grammy Award.

In his latest project, Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin, Wilson teamed up with two of his musical heroes, George and Ira Gershwin. This album features new versions of his all-time favorite Gershwin tunes, plus two new songs Wilson crafted from never-before-published music by Gershwin.

Read more »

http://alumni.ucla.edu/events/spring-sing/2011/gershwin-awards.aspx

[Amy B.]

This is pretty cool. I hope he gets the other Gershwin Award (the songwriting one) so we can see him on TV. 

[Peter Reum]

I would also love to see him win the Library of Congress`s Gershwin Award. I think it is the last major honor I can think of that he has not received.

[Shady]

I would also love to see him win the Library of Congress`s Gershwin Award. I think it is the last major honor I can think of that he has not received.

Was just thinking about this last night while watching the Kennedy Centre thing on youtube. He's won everything, the Gershwin Award must be the last.

He's gotta win next year.

[desmondo]

This is well deserved for Brian - that said I was underwhelmed by 75% of the Gershwin album - just think it could have been so much better

[Fall Breaks]

I would also love to see him win the Library of Congress`s Gershwin Award. I think it is the last major honor I can think of that he has not received.

He hasn't won the Polar Music Prize yet either, but I don't know if that's considered major outside of Sweden.

[lance]

I was underwhelmed by Gershwin album too, until two nights ago when I listened to it for the first time since November quietly on headphones....and it blew me away. So many amazing little touches in there.