By: Jacob Elyachar
Multiple sources including the Washington Post, the New York Times and USA Today have confirmed that the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts have announced this year’s Kennedy Center Honors recipients.
Without further ado…here are the five honorees:
The celebrated Piano Man will return to the Kennedy Center Honors after a nine-year absence. (Photo by the Associated Press’ Charles Sykes.)
Billy Joel: The legendary piano man has been entertaining audiences around the world for six decades. Throughout his six-decade career, the Bronx native received a Tony and six Grammy Awards for his contributions to music. He recorded 13 studio albums that spun numerous hits including “Piano Man, “ “My Life,” “We Didn’t Start the Fire” and “Just the Way You Are.”
Shirley MacLaine: For 50 years, Shirley MacLaine inspired performers to enter show business. She delivered powerful performances on the silver screen (The Turning Point, Terms of Engagement and Steel Magnolias) and on television (NCIS and Downton Abbey) and continues to be an intriguing writer who continues to pull new readers based on powerful New Age topics.
Herbie Hancock gave new life to Jazz music. (Photo property of Lionel Flusin)
Herbie Hancock: One of the most influential Jazz musicians of the 21st century is the Chicago native. Mr. Hancock has recorded over 40 studio albums, released 30 singles and received an Academy Award and 14 Grammys for his contribution to music. He has also collaborated with multiple artists including Norah Jones, Tina Turner, John Mayer, Christina Aguilera and fellow Kennedy Center Honoree Carlos Santana.
Martina Arroyo: Ms. Arroyo has one of the greatest voices in the opera world. She performed with a diverse group of respected companies including the Metropolitan Opera, Zurich Opera, Opera National de Paris and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. She also starred in numerous productions including Puccini’s Turnadot, Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Aida. She has also shared the stage with celebrated tenors including Placido Domingo and the late Luciano Pavarotti.
Carlos Santana is one of the greatest guitarists of all-time. (Photo property of Getty Images)
Carlos Santana: He changed the way music lovers looked at rock and roll! By infusing rock and Latin American music, Carlos Santana was able to influence numerous generations into diversifying their tastes. He has recorded 22 studio albums with his band: Santana and sold over 100 million records. In addition, Santana has also collaborated with a diverse group of artists including Rob Thomas (“Smooth”), Tina Turner (“The Game of Love”), Lauryn Hill and Cee Lo Green (“Do You Like the Way”), Seal (“You Are My Kind”) and Steven Tyler (“Just Feel Better”).
The honorees will be honored on December 15 and CBS will air the special on December 29.
