Keith Jones explains how Grammy Award Winner, Jon Bon Jovi, is honored with the Marian Anderson Award
The Marian Anderson Award this year will go to Jon Bon Jovi.
The annual award -- given to an artist to acknowledge his or her humanitarian work -- has honored actors, writers, music producers, even a comedian, but never a rock star.
In addition to contributing "Living on a Prayer" to the American rock canon, Bon Jovi has been actively fighting homelessness with his national charitable organization, the Philadelphia-based Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation.
"He's done a tremendous job to combat homelessness, working with Project HOME here," said Nina Tinari, the award board chairwoman. "It's very exciting for us to honor someone who has done a lot of work in the city of Philadelphia."
The award is given to artist of excellence who is also committed to humanitarian efforts, much like Marian Anderson, the first African-American to sing with the Metropolitan Opera. During her 40-year career, the native of Philadelphia overcame significant discrimination and helped others do the same.
The award will be presented to Bon Jovi, a resident of Middletown, New Jersey, during a dinner and concert Nov. 18.
However, Marian Anderson Award honorees never perform at their own event, so Jon Bon Jovi will not be going down in a blaze of glory.
