Musicians Institute Awards Honorary Degree to Guitar Legend Steve Vai

[Maggi]

In case you missed it, Steve Vai is about to receive an honorary Doctor of Music degree


MI Awards Honorary Degree to Guitar Legend Steve Vai | Sep 18, 2009 | News & Events at Musicians Institute

Musicians Institute has announced plans to award an honorary Doctor of Music degree to legendary rock guitarist, recording artist, producer, and composer Steve Vai. The award will be officially conferred during MI’s summer graduation ceremony to be held on September 18 at LA’s Wiltern Theatre.

After first achieving prominence as guitarist for the late Frank Zappa, Vai has gone on to win multiple Grammys, repeatedly top critics’ and readers’ polls, and earn gold and platinum records while becoming the personification of contemporary guitar virtuosity. His latest concert DVD, Where the Wild Things Are, is set for release at the end of the month.

Describing why MI selected Vai for the honor (only the second awarded in the school’s history), Vice President of Education Beth Marlis said, “Steve Vai has not only inspired countless musicians around the world and played a major role in the evolution of modern rock guitar, he also embodies MI’s ideal of the artist-educator who combines relentless pursuit of his creative vision with a sense of responsibility for mentoring the next generation.”

so from now on it's Dr. h.c. Steve Vai ...

very well deserved, I'd say !

[binnie]

Was the award a giant box of tissues?

[lesfunk]

Actually it was some light blue hair dye and a hairbrush

[vaijuju]

Vaijuju is happy for "god" Steve Vai

[Hardrock69]

He surely deserves to be rewarded like that.

Anyone who can survive being in Zappa's band is on the right track, and hell, that was the first famous band he played in!

I just missed seeing Steve in Zappas's band. Saw them on April 11, 1980, and Steve did not begin touring with Frank until fall of that year.