December 09, 2008
Bowling
Green, Ky. - Gospel recording artist Larnelle Harris received another award Monday night – an honorary
doctorate of fine arts from Western Kentucky University.
WKU President Gary Ransdell, Registrar Freida Eggleton and Board of Regents member Jim Johnson made the presentation at the sold-out “A Larnelle Harris Christmas” concert with the Bowling Green Chamber Orchestra at Living Hope Baptist Church.
Harris, a 1969 WKU graduate with a degree in music education, has received five Grammy Awards, 11 Dove Awards and has had 19 No. 1 songs and numerous top 10 hits. His latest recording, “I Want to Be a Star,” has garnered three top 20 national radio singles.
“I was surprised and humbled by the honor,” Harris said. “It is especially overwhelming coming from my alma mater – the school from which my wife and I both graduated.”
He was inducted into WKU’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 1993 and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2007.
“Larnelle has had an unparalleled career of success, combining faith with music,” Dr. Ransdell said. “Western Kentucky University is extraordinarily proud of his accomplishments.”
Harris has become one of the great figures in modern gospel music. He has performed around the world and was the first Christian artist to perform inside the Kremlin after the fall of the Soviet Union.
He received the Ad Council’s Silver Bell Award for Distinguished Public Service in recognition of his song “Mighty Spirit” as the theme song for the longest-running Public Service Announcement in television history. Other awards include 1981 Religion in the Media Award; 1985, 1986, 1987 Singing News Fan Award; 1986 Gospel Music News People’s Choice Award; 1988 Stellar Award; and 1989 Cashbox Magazine Award.
A native of Danville, Harris and his wife, Cynthia, live in Louisville. They have two grown children and three grandchildren.
More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu and at http://wkunews.wordpress.com/. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
For information, contact Academic Affairs at (270) 745-2296 or The Adams Group at (615) 776-1590.
-WKU-
"A leading American university with international reach"
Office of Media Relations
Western Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd., Bowling Green, Ky. 42101-3576
Phone: (270)745-4295 - Fax: (270)7455387 - E-Mail: western@wku.edu