Alan Silfen; Danny O’ConnorLionel Richie and Todd Rundgren are among the latest artists and music industry figures who will receive honorary doctorates from Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music.
Richie and Rundgren will be presented with their degrees during the school’s spring 2017 commencement ceremony, which will take place on May 13 at the Agganis Arena at Boston University.
Other honorees at the event include acclaimed Americana singer/songwriter Lucinda Williams, South Korean rock singer and producer Shin Joong Hyun and Recording Academy President Neil Portnow. Rundgren will serve as the commencement speaker at the ceremony, which is expected to be attended by more than 1,000 Berklee graduates, as well as their family members and other invited guests.
The honorees are being recognized for their achievements in music, and for their contribution to American culture. The night before the commencement, Berklee students will pay tribute this year’s honorees at a private concert at the arena.
Past recipients of Berklee honorary degrees include The Eagles, Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, Carole King, Steven Tyler, Phil Collins, Ronald and Ernest Isley, Valerie Simpson, Jimmy Page, U2‘s The Edge and Annie Lennox.
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