Anita Baker, Ron Carter, And Kevin Eubanks To Receive Honorary Doctor Of Music Degrees At Berklee College Of Music Commencement May 7, 2005

NEW YORK (Berklee College announcement) - Grammy-winning R&B vocalist Anita Baker, legendary jazz bassist Ron Carter, and Kevin Eubanks, music director of Jay Leno's Tonight Show Band, will receive Honorary Doctor of Music degrees at Berklee College of Music's Commencement on Saturday, May 7, 10:00 a.m. at Northeastern University's Matthews Arena. Commencement speaker Ron Carter will address the approximately 700 graduates and their invited guests at the 5,000-seat venue.

This year's Honorary Doctorate recipients - Baker, Carter, and Eubanks - are being honored for their achievements in the world of music, and for their enduring contributions to American culture. Past recipients include Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Patti LaBelle, Steven Tyler, Tito Puente, Nancy Wilson, David Bowie, Chaka Khan, Quincy Jones, Bonnie Raitt, and Ahmet Ertegun.

On commencement eve, as is Berklee's tradition, students will pay tribute by performing music associated with Baker, Carter, and Eubanks, at Matthews Arena. The Commencement Concert and Ceremony are not open to the public.