Stevie Wonder honored by U.S. Library of Congress

LOS ANGELES (Reuters Life!) - Stevie Wonder was named on Tuesday as the second recipient of the U.S. Library of Congress's Gershwin Prize for Popular Song after singing for nearly five decades about love, joy and injustices in the world.

The Motown icon, who will accept the prize in Washington, DC, on February 23 next year, also agreed to write a piece of music for the Library, joining a group of composers receiving commissions that range from Leonard Bernstein to Paquito D'Rivera.

"It's an immense privilege to join such a remarkable roster of musicians and composers," Wonder, 58, said in a statement. "I am touched to receive this honor, and look forward to creating music for the celebration."

Librarian of Congress James Billington said the Gershwin Prize was set up to commemorate George and Ira Gershwin, the American songwriting team whose manuscript collections reside in the Library of Congress.

He said the prize honors musicians for a lifetime of contributions to the field of popular music that helped bring diverse listeners together and fostered mutual understanding.

Last year the prize was awarded to Paul Simon.

Wonder, who was born in Saginaw, Michigan, became blind shortly after birth but learned to play the harmonica, piano and drums by age 9.

At the age of 12, after moving to Detroit, he was given a recording contract by Motown Records, going on to deliver 32 No. 1 R&B and pop singles, garner 25 Grammy Awards and sell more than 100 million records.

Wonder, whose hits include "Superstition", "I Just Called to Say I Love You" and "My Cherie Amour", embarked on a concert tour this summer that he said hoped would spread a message of unity among all religions and races.

The singer has been politically active over the years, advocating in 1983 for Martin Luther King Day to become a national U.S. holiday and in recent months supporting Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee.

(Writing by Belinda Goldsmith, Editing by Miral Fahmy)