Ivan Neville Delivers Commencement Address and Receives Honorary Doctorate at University of New Orleans Graduation Ceremony
Ivan Neville, image via the artist’s Facebook
On Saturday, May 8, Ivan Neville took a different sort of stage in New Orleans, appearing at the University of New Orleans’ commencement ceremony for a speech and recognition of his artistic accomplishments. The lauded keyboardist, vocalist and bandleader was selected for the commencement address at UNO Lakefront Arena and an honorary doctorate for his “contributions to music and to the culture of New Orleans,” the university detailed in an announcement story.
Neville celebrated the occasion with a post to his social channels. “A very exciting day!!,” he wrote. “Had the privilege of being the keynote speaker and receiving an honorary doctorate degree from the University of New Orleans at their commencement ceremony!!! The most amazing part of the day was watching all the graduates get their due !!! Pretty cool stuff 🙏🏽❤️”
Neville, son of Aaron Neville and collaborator with the Neville Brothers and the other legacy acts associated with his family, has earned acclaim of his own through more than four decades of solo performance and his pioneering funk-jam outfit Dumpstaphunk. His latest recognition adds to a career total of six Offbeat Best of The Beat Awards, a 2023 Grammy Award for Best American Roots Song and a Billboard Top 30 single.
Last Saturday, Dr. Neville lent his talents to the second of two long-awaited reunion shows for The Meters, which together represented the legendary NOLA funk group’s first performance since 2017. Read more about that guest-filled celebration here.
