Stevie Wonder the Gershwin Prize Winner for 2009

Singer/songwriter Stevie Wonder has been announced as the latest winner of the U.S. Library of Congress's Gershwin Prize for Popular Song and will accept the prize February 23, 2009 at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. He will also write a new piece of music for the library.

The prize is named after George and Ira Gershwin, an American songwriting team whose large collection of songwriting paraphernalia are currently stored in the Library.

This honor being given to Stevie Wonder recognizes his lifetime of contributions to the field of popular music.

Stevie Wonder has created such hits as "My Cherie Amore", "Superstition", and "I Just Called to Say I Love You" has been blind since birth and learned to play various instruments before the age of 10.

At the age of 12 he was signed by Motown Records and has since sold over 100 million albums and received 25 Grammy Awards.

Last year's winner of the Gershwin Prize was Paul Simon.