Itzhak Perlman: Music Magic

One of the most famous fiddlers in the world was acknowledged for his achievements at this year's Kennedy Center Honors.

The Early Show's co-anchor Julie Chen sat down with Itzhak Perlman, who was honored for his lifetime endeavor.

Like many artists of note, Perlman's talent sparkled from the beginning. At the age of 3, the little Israeli boy fell in love with a sound he heard on the radio.

His parents gave him a violin, and within a few years, he was performing around the world.

Perlman performed on the "Ed Sullivan Show" when he was 13 years old.

"I was on the 'Ed Sullivan Show' and I played nicely," he says. "I did not sound like an incredible 25-year-old artist … I wasn't ready. I was just talented."

But, as he matured, Perlman's talent evolved into what can only be called magic.

"He plays a violin as if it could become alive and it does, because first he makes the music in his soul and then he lets it into the violin," says actor Alan Alda.

Perlman accomplished this in spite of what others might have found to be a very large obstacle. He was stricken with polio at 4 years old.

"My being disabled with polio basically did not do anything to make my career better or worse," Perlman says. "What it did cause was challenges in the very beginning. Some critics also could not shut their eyes and open their ears. And they had to look at, 'He's walking with crutches. He's sitting down. He couldn't be that good. Maybe he's good. Maybe it's good for somebody who is disabled.' Whatever it is, it's gone. I think that I'm accepted."

"Accepted" might not be the right word.

Perlman has lifted the art of violin playing into a new sphere, and he made it one that we had to aspire to.

Before receiving his reward, Perlman plans to say, "This is very nice. This is very, very nice."

Perlman is not only renowned for his talent as a musician, but also as a teacher. He and his wife run a violin camp, and he teaches seminars and lessons all over the world.

The Kennedy Center Honors will air on CBS, Friday, Dec. 26.