John Mellencamp has been selected to win the John Steinbeck Award which goes to an individual who has contributed to society in the spirit of author Steinbeck.
John Mellencamp - Image By Ros O'Gorman
Specifically, it goes to someone who embodies “the spirit of Steinbeck’s empathy, commitment to democratic values, and belief in the dignity of the common man.”
Thomas Steinbeck, John’s son and, himself, an author, said “My father always carried a deep and profound respect for songwriters and musicians. He felt they were the voice of the people and had the unique opportunity to reach the very souls of the people. Like Woody Guthrie, Bruce Springsteen, and a handful of others, John Mellencamp has done just that. He has spent his life serving as a voice for the people.
“John’s 40-year career makes one marvel. As an artist, John Mellencamp has been a superb singer-songwriter-storyteller; as an exemplary activist, and as a creator and longtime champion of Farm Aid, he has maintained the true spirit of John Steinbeck’s compassion for the worker. Without question, John Mellencamp has earned the John Steinbeck Award, and it will be my great pleasure to present it to him.”
John added “John Steinbeck’s remarkable ability to give voice to the common man and to people on society’s margins, to describe their plight and aspirations, continues to inspire us more than a century after his birth. I’m very honored to be the recipient of an award given in his name.”
Previous winners of the John Steinbeck Award include Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez, Jackson Browne, Arthur Miller, Michael Moore and Sean Penn.
The award will be presented on July 30 at the California Theatre in San Jose, CA.
