Patti Smith Set To Receive John Lennon Real Love Award

Patti Smith is set to receive the John Lennon Real Love Award at the Theatre Within’s 37th Annual John Lennon Tribute. The event is scheduled to take place on 1 December 2017 at Symphony Space in New York City.

During the show, Smith will perform a set comprising her favourite tunes by The Beatles and from John Lennon’s solo career, while an array of artists will also team to cover Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in its entirety to 50th anniversary of the influential Beatles album. Additional performers will be announced on John Lennon’s birthday, 9 October.

Smith is only the fourth person to receive the coveted John Lennon Real Love Award. Folk-rock legend Donovan earned the honour last year, while the other two recipients are playwright and The Vagina Monologues author Eve Ensler and famed New York rock photographer Bob Gruen.

“Patti Smith is one of the truly great and important artists of her generation,” said Yoko Ono. “Patti’s music, writing and social activism have inspired millions to care about the world more deeply and love more fully.”

Patti Smith previously performed at the Theatre Within’s John Lennon Tribute in 2010. A previously unreleased video of her performing a suitably rollicking cover of Lennon’s ‘Oh Yoko!’ is now available to watch on YouTube.

Tickets for the 37th John Lennon Tribute go on sale 22^nd September at 1 p.m. ET via the concert’s website. A limited number of VIP packages will also be available.

Proceeds from the John Lennon Tribute will support the free workshops the Theatre Within hosts at Gilda’s Club in New York City. Gilda’s Club – named for Gilda Radner – is a community organization for those living with cancer, and the Theatre Within’s workshops include a songwriting class, the John Lennon Real Love Project, and a meditation workshop, Imagine Peace, Practice Peace.

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