PBS’s Great Performances series will premiere “Jimmy Webb: American Songwriter” on Oct. 30, a concert special honoring the three-time Grammy-winning songwriter. The program features performances and commentary from Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett, Ashley Campbell, Sheléa and Ryan Shaw, alongside Webb himself discussing the origins of songs including “Wichita Lineman,” “Galveston,” “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” and “MacArthur Park.”
The special also incorporates archival footage of original recordings by artists such as Glen Campbell, The Fifth Dimension, Richard Harris and Donna Summer. According to the announcement, Webb is the only songwriter to have won Grammy Awards in the music, lyrics and orchestration categories, and his career is further marked this year by a new compilation, “Yours For the Taking: The Found Songs of Jimmy Webb,” featuring previously unreleased material.
The concert, recorded in February, was produced by John Paulson Productions for Great Performances, a WNET Group series. It premieres at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT on PBS stations, PBS.org and the PBS app.
Based on a press release provided to Music Industry Weekly by Laura Liebeck, grandcommunications.com.