Paco de Lucía is now officially Doctor Honoris Causa of Boston's Berklee College

Paco de Lucía is now officially Doctor Honoris Causa of Boston’s Berklee College.

On May 8th, in a mass ceremony held at the Agganis Arena in the American city, the guitarist became the first Spaniard to receive the prestigious university’s highest distinction.

photos: Arthur Pollock

Guitarist Paco de Lucía (Algeciras/España, 1947) rose to the Olympia of academe at the prestigious university center of Berklee College of Music of Boston (USA) where he was invested Doctor Honoris Causa during a mass ceremony held at the Agganis Arena, with more than 6,000 spectators and nearly a thousand students who were celebrating their graduation.  The Andalusian musican, who is the first Spaniard to receive this distinction, showed his gratitude with a brief and moving speech which he read in English, recalling his difficult beginnings when he was a child and flamenco was considered the music of the Andalusian people, but went on to become the universal music it is today, known and appreciated the world over.  Along with him, African singer Angélique Kidjo, pianist Kenny Baron and the creators of the famous Philadelphia Sound, Kennth Gamble and Leon Huff received the award as well.

The decision of the American institution was in response to a proposal of Eduardo Bautista, president of the Board of Directors of the SGAE (Spanish society of authors), and member of the Board of Trustees of Berklee College of Music, which lobbied for this distinction to be given to the Andalusian musician.  Bautista explained the importance of flamenco as an extraordinarily unique genre which identifies the musical wealth of Spain.  In this sense, Paco de Lucía is the most universal symbol of flamenco expression.

Duke Ellington was the first musician to receive the distinction of Doctor Honoris Causa in 1971.  After him, others such as Dizzy Gillespie, Aretha Franklin, Juan Luis Guerra, David Bowie, the Edge, Michel Camilo, Quincy Jones, Sting, Phil Collins, Chick Corea, Rubén Blades o George Benson were honored in the same way.

More information:
The SGAE has set up a webpage, pacodeluciadoctorhonoriscausa.com, where other artists have left congratulatory messages.  Enrique Morente, Carmen Linares, Tomatito, José Mercé and Alejandro Sanz among many others.  There is also a page where all aficionados can leave their comments