Julio Iglesias Receives Honorary Doctorate Degree From Berklee College of Music

Julio Iglesias has received an honorary doctorate degree from Boston's Berklee College of Music in Saturday's commencement.

Aside from the Spanish artist, the prestigious university also gave honorary doctorates to Sony Music Entertainment CEO Doug Morris, drummer Harvey Mason, and Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and producer Dee Dee Bridgewater, with the latter giving the commencement address, Billboard reported.

Iglesias accepted the honorary doctorate wearing a mortarboard and robe, "just like any of the other 900 students from 62 countries who were completing their studies," Fox News Latino wrote. During his entire five-decade-long career, the 71-year-old singer recorded more than 80 albums and sold an estimate of 300 million copies of his records worldwide.

Aside from winning a Grammy Award, Iglesias also bagged recognitions from the Latin Grammys, the World Music Award, and the Billboard Awards, Fox News Latino listed. Spain's Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts was also awarded to the musician. Some of his well-known tracks are "Pelo Amor de uma Mulher," "Nathalie," and "Un Canto A Galicia."

Berklee College of Music, an influential institution which focuses on contemporary music, issues the honorary doctorates to "recognize musical achievements and influence, as well as a person's ongoing contribution to the development of U.S. and international culture," the news outlet added. Past recipients of the award included Duke Ellington, Aretha Franklin, David Bowie, Juan Luis Guerra, Steven Tyler, Paco de Lucia, and Placido Domingo.

As per tradition, on Friday night, May 8, Berklee students held a private concert at the 7,000-seater Agganis Arena to honor Iglesias, Morris, Mason, and Bridgewater with music associated with their entire careers, Music Business Worldwide reported.

Sony Music Entertainment, which Morris is the CEO of, is the world's second largest music company and spearheaded the career of several international stars such as Alicia Keys, Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen, Daft Punk, Justin Timberlake, P!nk, and One Direction, Music Business Worldwide listed. Morris is also the founder of video hosting service and entertainment platform VEVO.

Aside from being a renowned drummer, Mason is also a Grammy winner composer, producer, and recording artist, the news outlet noted. Among those the musician worked with are Barbara Streisand, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Frank Sinatra, and Michael Jackson.

Bridgewater, on the other hand, bagged a Tony Award and is known for her role as Glinda in the Broadway production of "The Wiz." She is also a United Nations Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, Music Business Worldwide wrote.