Page last updated at 07:45 GMT, Tuesday, 8 April 2008 08:45 UK

Dylan wins special Pulitzer Prize

Bob Dylan
Dylan is the first rock musician to be receive a Pulitzer Prize

Singer-songwriter Bob Dylan has received an honorary Pulitzer Prize for his "profound impact on popular music and American culture".

The special music award recognised the 66-year-old's "lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power".

Prize administrator Sig Gissler said the honour "reflects the efforts of the Pulitzer board to broaden the scope of the music prize".

Other recipients included US playwright Tracy Letts and novelist Junot Diaz.

'Excellence'

The awards, named after newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer, carry a prize of $10,000 (£5,053).

Previous recipients of the special musical Pulitzer include jazz icon John Coltrane, composer George Gershwin and science-fiction author Ray Bradbury.

Dylan's award marks the first time the panel has recognised a rock musician.

The prize, said Mr Gissler, signalled the award body's intention to "encompass the full range of excellence in American music".

According to publisher Simon & Schuster, Dylan is currently working on a second volume of memoirs


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07 Apr 08 |  Americas
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28 Nov 07 |  Entertainment
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