Jazz pianist, composer Herbie Hancock to speak at Peabody Commencement ceremony

Herbie Hancock playing the piano - Hancock will also receive the George Peabody Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Music in America at the ceremony Herbie Hancock -celebrated jazz and crossover artist, 14-time Grammy-winner, and advocate for using culture and the arts to advance peace-will receive the George Peabody Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Music in America and address graduates during the Peabody Conservatory's 2022 Graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 25. The George Peabody Medal is the highest honor bestowed by the Peabody Institute and has been presented annually since 1980. "It is a true honor to present this award to Herbie Hancock, a genuine icon of contemporary American music," noted Peabody Dean Fred Bronstein. "His prolific artistic output as solo performer, recording artist, and bandleader is remarkable, and its impact is magnified by his lifelong commitment to fostering connection among communities and understanding across cultures with his art." In his sixth decade of musical innovations, Herbie Hancock remains at the forefront of world culture, technology, business, and music. As a member of the Miles Davis Quintet, he helped pioneer a groundbreaking sound in jazz, followed in the 1970s with albums including Headhunters , which combined electric jazz with funk and rock, and later exploring acoustics with V.S.O.P. and electronic dance sounds with his bestselling album Future Shock . Hancock received an Academy Award for his Round Midnight film score and has garnered 14 Grammys, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and Album of the Year for River: The Joni Letters .