Jon Lord - Honorary Degree - University of Leicester

A short clip of Jon Lord receiving and responding to the presentation of the Honorary Degree (Doctor of Music) from the University of Leicester.

Jon Lord was born in Leicester in 1941 and was educated at Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys, right next door to the University of Leicester. Moving to London at 19, he started performing with jazz bands and rhythm and blues groups, acquiring his first electric organ in 1963.

In 1968 Jon Lord co-founded Deep Purple and during his eight years with the band, his Hammond organ riffs underpinned many great songs including the classic 'Smoke on the Water'.

He also took the band in a classical direction by composing a major work, 'Concerto for Group and Orchestra', first performed in 1969 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Malcolm Arnold.

After a brief spell as one third of Paice, Ashton and Lord, he played with Whitesnake between 1978 and 1984 then rejoined a new line-up of Deep Purple where he stayed until retiring in 2002 to concentrate on solo work. Throughout his career in rock, Jon Lord has continued a parallel career in classical music, recording and performing his own compositions.

The last time Jon Lord visited the University of Leicester was 41 years ago when Deep Purple played at the Students' Union on 7 February 1970.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Jon Lord
• Deep Purple
• Honorary Degree
• University of Leicester
• Doctor of Music
• Leicester
• Wyggeston Grammar School
• Electric Organ
• Hammond Organ
• Smoke on the Water
• Whitesnake

[MrPurplix]

Absolutely impressive event.

Jon Lord absolutely deserves the DOCTOR OF MUSIC.

Congratualations

He inspired for the many kinds of music, since I was a child.

Karl-Heinz from Flensburg, Northern Germany.

[LuigiMontanaro2]

E finalmente, cazzo!!!

Jon Lord for president.....

.... il tutto mi sembra un po' esagerato però se è Lord e personaggi come lui a meritare un rito del genere che ben venga pure!!

Deep Purple tutta la vita

[Darfra80]

@LuigiMontanaro2 bravo! L'unico commento che ho mai condiviso in tutta la mia storia di internet user

[Stonezorz]

If I was a religious person I'd worship Jon Lord as my deity.

[insensiblegradations]

Lovely to see Jon Lord get this award. What an inspirational keyboard player he is, particularly on the Hammond organ.

[IlRezzonico]

Well done Jon. I don't normally agree with honorary degrees, but for Jon I will make an exception. This guy's tinkling has been the soundtrack of my life.

[pearbra]

Well deserved, Jon.

[riqyl32]

FUCK YOU, CANCER

[1976scarpa]

Un uomo un talento e un mito....fantastico!

[jmastersherm1]

Here's to a full recovery for the lord of the Hammond. A true gentleman!

[FellipeSNK]

best fucking keyboardist ever

[metacosmos]

Hope he publish some day the scores of his Concerto and other works from him, as well as a method on organ playing explaining all his fingerings.