Berklee College To Give Honorary Doctorate To Jimmy Paige

Thursday has been quite eventful for Jimmy Page.  On the same day that release details for the first wave of Led Zeppelin reissues were officially announced, word has come that the band's famed guitarist will receive an honorary doctor of music degree from Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music.

The event will take place on May 10 in conjunction with the school's commencement ceremony, which will be held at the Agganis Arena at Boston University.  Page, pop/R&B songwriter and performer Valerie Simpson, and two other honorees will be recognized at the event for their achievements and influence on music, as well as for their cultural contributions.

About 900 graduates, family members and other guests are expected to attend the ceremony.  The evening before, Berklee students will pay tribute to Page and the other honorees with a special performance of their music.

In response to the news, Page sent a statement to Rolling Stone saying, "It's truly an honor to be the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate at Berklee as the music of America has been a primary driving force in my early years and pivotal to my musical development."

Past recipients of Berklee honorary degrees include include The Eagles, Aretha Franklin, Steven Tyler, Carole King, Phil Collins, Smokey Robinson, U2's The Edge, and Annie Lennox.  Among the many famous musicians who attended the school are Quincy Jones, Steely Dan's Donald Fagen, Brad Whitford and Joey Kramer of Aerosmith, John Mayer, Melissa Etheridge, and Bruce Hornsby.