Legendary 73-year old jazz musician Herbie Hancock has just been appointed the 2014 Norton Professor of Poetry by Harvard University. Hancock, an active member of the music community for over fifty years, will give six lectures on a various array of topics, most of which stem from his personal experiences.
So far, Hancock has suggested that one lecture will be entitled “The Wisdom of Miles Davis.” Another will focus on the tenets of Buddhism, and how Hancock was able to apply Buddhism to his creative practices.
Hancock’s legendary status in the music business is well-deserved. The recipient of 15 Grammy Awards and one Academy Award, Hancock has had an incredibly prolific career, and has collaborated with the likes of Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, Carlos Santana, and many, many more.
Now, Hancock will face his latest challenge. The Norton Professor of Poetry position was created in 1925, and notable honorees include Robert Frost, T.S. Eliot, and Leonard Bernstein. Hancock described following Bernstein as “pretty daunting.” However, from a man who told BBC that his muse was “life itself,” we’re sure that Hancock is up for the challenge.
-David Melamed (@DMelamz)