Allen Toussaint To Receive Honorary Doctorate From Tulane University

Allen Toussaint will receive an honorary doctorate degree of Fine Arts at Tulane University's commencement ceremony on May 18th, 2013. Others receiving honorary degrees at this year's ceremony include Dr. John, The Dalai Lama and Pulitzer Prize winner, Natasha Trethewey. His Holiness The Dalai Lama will give the keynote address at the commencement ceremony which will take place at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

The Honorary Doctorate Award is the highest award that Tulane University confers, and it is given "to individuals who have distinguished themselves through extraordinary achievements" and to "recognize outstanding civic engagement that advances Tulane, New Orleans, the Gulf Coast or the world." Some of Toussaint's past accolades include induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Blues Hall of Fame, and Louisiana Music Hall of Fame; multiple GRAMMY nominations, and a GRAMMY Trustees Award. Actively touring the US and abroad, Toussaint continues his influential work and efforts to spread the musical culture of New Orleans.

Official Announcement by Tulane University >>

Tulene University Commencement 2013 >>

At a star-studded gala at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York on Thursday night, legendary singer/pianist/songwriter and record producer Allen Toussaint was inducted into the prestigious Songwriters Hall Of Fame.

Veteran rock star Boz Scaggs walked out on stage and sang “Hercules”, Allen’s timeless parable about survival in the modern world which had been a highlight of Boz’s fourth Columbia album “Slow Dancer” back in 1974. Mr. Toussaint then joined him on stage to accompany on piano as Boz sang “Hello My Lover”, another of Allen’s songs which he’d previously recorded but which had started out life on a 1960 single by the late Ernie K-Doe.

The Scaggs/Toussaint set then finished with the two of them duetting on “What Do You Want The Girl To Do”, one of the standout songs from Allen’s landmark 1975Reprise album “Southern Nights”.

Boz then officially presented Allen with his Award and the SRO audience rose to their feet and applauded in heartfelt appreciation.   

"when I meet someone like Allen Toussaint - that for me is like meeting, you know, someone the equivalent of the Dalai Lama because for me, he influenced the way I played the piano, he's a historical part of rock and roll." 
- Elton John on Elvis Costello's Spectacle

Nonesuch Records releases The Bright Mississippi, Allen Toussaint’s first solo album in more than a decade, on April 21, 2009.

Critically acclaimed Nonesuch CD -The Bright Mississippi  Out Now

Mojo raves "Jazz albums don't come much better” and gives it 4 stars and according to the New York Times "This is a jazz record for people who think they don't like jazz..."