Trombonist Curtis Fuller, composer Benny Golson and educator Robert Morgan to be honored.

BOSTON, September 1, 1999 -- Trombonist Curtis Fuller, composer/saxophonist Benny Golson and distinguished jazz educator Dr. Robert Morgan will receive honorary doctor of music degrees during Berklee College of Music's 1999 Entering Student Convocation on September 14.

The three honorees will help welcome Berklee's entering class of approximately 800 students from 75 countries. Some of Berklee's most outstanding current students also will welcome the entering class with a concert featuring the music of the three honorary doctorate recipients. The Convocation ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. in the Berklee Performance Center. The tribute concert will follow at 8 p.m.

Curtis Fuller, of New York City, is regarded as one of the most distinctive trombone stylists in jazz. He emerged from the thriving Detroit music scene of the late 1940s and early 50s to take his place among the legends of jazz. He has recorded over 100 albums as both a sideman and leader, playing with John Coltrane, Bud Powell, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Young, Art Blakey and fellow honoree Benny Golson in Jazztet. He is featured on the famous tune "Moment's Notice" on Coltrane's classic Blue 'Trane album. During the 1970s, Fuller developed an electronic style rooted in be-bop, but in the 1980s he returned to a hard-bop style, leading the quintet Giant Bones.

Benny Golson, originally of Philadelphia, Pa., has earned acclaim for his work as a composer of film and television music, as well as jazz classics like "Stablemates" and "I Remember Clifford." He began his career as a saxophonist, playing with many of the top artists in jazz, and went on to compose tunes for Dizzy Gillespie's band. In the early 1960s, Golson founded Jazztet (which featured Curtis Fuller), but soon departed the group to establish a career as a composer in Los Angeles. He arranged tunes for artists such as Sammy Davis Jr., Diana Ross and Mel Torme. He also wrote for many popular TV shows, including "MASH," "Mission Impossible" and "The Partridge Family."

Robert Morgan has served as director of jazz studies at his native Houston (Texas) High School for the Performing and Visual Arts since 1976. Under his direction, HSPVA's jazz ensembles have performed throughout Europe and the United States and his program has become a model for the successful training of young, aspiring musicians. His program has produced 79 all-state musicians, four Clifford Brown/Stan Getz Fellows, a Presidential Scholar in the Arts, and seven International Association of Jazz Educators Young Talent Award winners. Dr. Morgan has received an Achievement Awards for Jazz Education from Down Beat magazine and a Presidential Scholars Teacher Recognition Award. Berkleeis previous honorary doctorate recipients include Duke Ellington, B.B. King, Sarah Vaughan, Billy Joel, Sting, Paul Simon, Tito Puente, Bonnie Raitt, Quincy Jones, Patti LaBelle and Pat Metheny.

Founded in 1945, Berklee College of Music has been advancing careers in contemporary music for more than 50 years. The worldis largest independent college of music, Berklee has a multicultural enrollment of over 2,900 students, 40 percent of whom are international. The collegeis alumni include some of the most respected figures in contemporary music, including many multi-Grammy award winners.

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For more information contact:
Sarah Godcher, publicist
Office of Public Information
(617) 747-2658 or sgodcher@berklee.edu