Ex-Deep Purple Keyboardist Jon Lord Made Honorary Doctor Of Music

Ex-Deep Purple Keyboardist Jon Lord Made Honorary Doctor Of Music

July 27, 2011

According to JonLord.org, former Deep Purple keyboardist Jon Lord has received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Music from the University of Leicester.

"Jon Lord is one of British music's most eclectic and talented instrumentalists. There are no signs of his creative talents abating.”

These words rounded off a detailed account of Jon Lord's musical life that preceded Jon being presented with the Honorary Degree.

"It is humbling to hear your life retold with such accuracy," Lord said in his acceptance speech, where he also spoke fondly of his musical childhood in Leicester.

His first concert was experience was in the same hall where the presentation ceremony was being held.

"I was 6 or 7 years old and heard cutting edge classical stuff performed by the Haley Orchestra; the William Tell Overture, Grieg's Piano Concerto and the New World Symphony.

"It thrilled me and possibly changed things right there," he explained.

Years later in the same hall, he saw Buddy Holly.

"He spun my head around," Lord said. "The love of what Buddy Holly represented and the love of what the Haley Orchestra represented has defined my musical life.

"This town was and still is deep inside my bones, and it's a huge, huge privilege and an honor to come back here and accept this honorary degree. My parents — were they alive — would be dancing in the street. I suspect and hope they're dancing somewhere far more pleasant than Averill Road [Jon's childhood home]. Thank you and God bless!"

Video footage of Jon Lord receiving and responding to the presentation of the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Music from the University of Leicester can be seen below.

His speech begins at 7:55

And now let's see the good doctor at work on my all time favorite Deep Purple track!

Jon Lord Keybord Solo ~ Lazy 1999 (Live in Melbourne)

The good doctor doing a bad ass keyboard solo leading into the song Lazy.... from 1999 in Australia. Impressive keyboard work here.