Premieres Friday, October 30 at 9/8c on PBS, pbs.org/gperf and the PBS app
In this unique concert celebrating the music of the legendary three-time Grammy Award-winning songwriter, musician, and performer, Jimmy Webb takes center stage to perform his catalog, sharing intimate stories behind the songs and their journeys to iconic status including hits like “Wichita Lineman,” “Highwayman,” “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” “Galveston” and “MacArthur Park.” Webb is joined by guest artists Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett, Ashley Campbell (Glen Campbell’s daughter), Sheléa, and Ryan Shaw all of whom perform and offer insightful commentary on Webb’s lasting artistry. The concert looks back at Webb’s career with archival clips of his hits sung by the original artists: Glen Campbell, The Fifth Dimension, Richard Harris, Donna Summer, and more. The only artist in history to have received Grammy Awards for music, lyrics, and orchestration, Webb’s innovative lyrics and melodies have earned him both critical acclaim and worldwide devotion and are further commemorated with a new career-spanning album featuring never-before-released songs, “Yours For the Taking: The Found Songs of Jimmy Webb.” Recorded in February, Great Performances – Jimmy Webb: American Songwriter premieres Friday, October 30 at 9/8c on PBS, pbs.org/gperf and the PBS app.
Song List:
- “Up, Up and Away” – Jimmy Webb
- “The Worst That Could Happen” – Ryan Shaw
- “The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress” – Ryan Shaw
- “All I Know” – Ashley Campbell
- “Shattered” – Sheléa
- “Still Within the Sound of My Voice” – Ryan Shaw, Sheléa
- “If These Walls Could Speak” – Lyle Lovett
- “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” – Vince Gill
- “Galveston” – Lyle Lovett
- “Wichita Lineman” – Vince Gill
- “The Highwayman” – Jimmy Webb, Lyle Lovett, Vince Gill and Ashley Campbell
- “Didn’t We” – Jimmy Webb
- “MacArthur Park” – Sheléa
- “Adios” – Jimmy Webb and Ashley Campbell
- “If You See Me Getting Smaller, I’m Leaving” – Jimmy Webb
