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- Lorne
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Bette Midler, Joni Mitchell, Berry Gordy honored by Kennedy Center
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced its 44th lifetime achievement award winners. They are: Motown founder Berry Gordy, opera star Justino Díaz, singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, entertainer Bette Midler and television impresario Lorne Michaels, who created Saturday Night Live.
Modeled after European distinctions such as France's Ordre des Arts et des Lettres or the United Kingdom's Order of the British Empire, the Kennedy Center Honors celebrate artists who changed American culture — "not someone who happens to have a pop record hit at the moment," in the words of Bernie Sofronski, a CBS producer who helped create the awards in 1978.
- Mark H.
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Re: Bette Midler, Joni Mitchell, Berry Gordy honored by Kennedy Center
How could it take 44 years to induct Berry Gordy? Love Motown records.
- Lorne
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Re: Bette Midler, Joni Mitchell, Berry Gordy honored by Kennedy Center
Over the years I've thought that it's unfortunate when someone isn't recognized with an award until after they've passed, if it could have happened while they were still alive. Moreover, I read elsewhere that with these awards, they don't normally honour people posthumously; they've only done so when they've inducted a group where one of the members had passed away. So you raise a good point, considering that Gordy is now 91 ... it's fortunate that he's lived a long enough life to receive this award.
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