Folk legend Pete Seeger honored by arts academy

[April 25, 2012]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Folk legend Pete Seeger has won a major prize and he might just play a little music to celebrate.

The 92-year-old troubadour is receiving a "Distinguished Service" award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. According to academy executive director Virginia Dajani, Seeger might perform a song at the May 16 ceremony. Also Wednesday, the academy announced that Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough will be given a gold medal for biography and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Steven Reich a gold medal for music.

The arts academy was founded in 1898 and has a core membership of 250 writers, artists and musicians, including Toni Morrison, Jasper Johns and Ornette Coleman.

[Associated Press; By HILLEL ITALIE]

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