Monumento a Jon Lord en Ucrania y el Honorary Doctor of Music de la Universidad de Leicester

De los grandes músicos, Jon Lord, el aristócrata del teclado, integrante de la banda británica Deep Purple, con su sensibilidad, genio, admirado por muchos que sienten la música de rock avanzada, en un monumento único. Dado a conocer el 27 de noviembre 2014. Dos años después de su muerte. La idea del monumento llegó a un par de lugareños en Ukranian, ciudad de Uzhhorod hace dos años. Empezaron a recoger el dinero en latas de cerveza vacías colocadas estratégicamente en los pubs locales. Dos años y 16 kilos de monedas después, aquí está, en toda su gloria Jon Lord, sentado en la barandilla de un paseo junto al rio, contemplativo de la vista.

Antes, un 5 de julio del año 2011 tuvo la oportunidad de recibir el  Grado Honorario como Doctor de la Música, de la Universidad de  Leicester. Un video de Jon Lord al recibir y responder por este honor concedido.

“Jon Lord is one of British music’s most eclectic and talented instrumentalists. There are no signs of his creative talents abating.”

These words rounded off a detailed account of Jon Lord’s musical life that preceded Jon being presented with the Honorary Degree.

Jon Lord has received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Music from the University of Leicester

Short clip of Jon Lord receiving and responding to the presentation of the Honorary Degree (Doctor of Music) from the University of Leicester.

Jon Lord was born in Leicester in 1941 and was educated at Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys, right next door to the University of Leicester. Moving to London at 19, he started performing with jazz bands and rhythm and blues groups, acquiring his first electric organ in 1963.

In 1968 Jon Lord co-founded Deep Purple and during his eight years with the band, his Hammond organ riffs underpinned many great songs including the classic 'Smoke on the Water'.

He also took the band in a classical direction by composing a major work, 'Concerto for Group and Orchestra', first performed in 1969 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Malcolm Arnold.

After a brief spell as one third of Paice, Ashton and Lord, he played with Whitesnake between 1978 and 1984 then rejoined a new line-up of Deep Purple where he stayed until retiring in 2002 to concentrate on solo work. Throughout his career in rock, Jon Lord has continued a parallel career in classical music, recording and performing his own compositions.

The last time Jon Lord visited the University of Leicester was 41 years ago when Deep Purple played at the Students' Union on 7 February 1970.

http://jonlord.org/2011/07/27/jon-lord-made-honorary-doctor-of-music/