The Berklee College of Music recently announced that singers Roberta Flack and Usher are amongst the musicians set to receive an honorary degree this year.
Scheduled for May 13, the renowned singers are two out of three musicians set to attend the 2023 commencement ceremony as honorary participants. Along with the singers, Sona Jobarteh, one of the world’s most renowned kora players, will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree.
Upon receiving their awards, each guest will have the ability to address the institute’s graduating class. With their speeches, the artists will have the ability to impart lessons they’ve learned throughout their careers in the music industry to the students as they begin theirs.
With their new degrees, the three musicians will join a select group of musical artists that have been awarded by the prestigious institute; beginning with Duke Ellington in 1971, artists such as Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, Missy Elliott, Gloria Estefan, B.B. King and more have been recognized by Berklee for their impact.
“This year’s honorary doctorate recipients will be celebrated and recognized for their invaluable contributions to the worlds of music and philanthropy,” said a representative of Berklee in a newly released statement announcing the recipients.
A four-time Grammy Award-winning artist, Flack is considered one of the most successful singer-songwriters of all time. With classics such as “Tonight I Celebrate My Love” and “Where Is The Love,” the artist has been hailed for her transitions from genre to genre, including pop, soul, folk and jazz songs in her repertoire.
Born into a musical family, Flack first began playing music by learning the piano at the age of nine and becoming classically trained. At the age of 15, she received a scholarship for her talents, attending Howard University. Eventually, she was discovered and signed to Atlantic Records. For her work, Flack was honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.
Born in West Africa, Jobarteh is considered the first woman to become a professional Kora player. Studying under her father, she first began playing the instrument at the age of four. For her talent, Jobarteh received a scholarship to the Purcell School of Music and the Royal College of Music, where she expanded her musicianship, learning the cello, piano and harpsichord. She also studied composition and scores, writing her own pieces for Idris Elba’s Beast.
Considered the second most “successful artist of the 2000s,” Usher has sold over 80 million albums worldwide throughout his career. For his music, he’s won eight Grammys, first winning Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 2001 for his track “U Remind Me.” Usher has also been awarded his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his success.
