No Professor Kaukonen

[FirstBassman]

Jorma was offered the position of Dean of the Music Department at Hocking College in Nelsonville, Ohio (about ten miles past Athens) but he turned them down.
Too bad.

[gTarFreak]

Wellll, it's good for us... more time for touring and teaching

Cheers,
Dave

[jimmie ray]

I would agree - although maybe for self-centered reasons...
But really, that college could get any one of thousands of people qualified to do that. Who's gonna do what Jorma is doing now, for us?

[Jon_G]

Bob Dylan accepted a Doctorate in Music from St. Andrews university in Scotland last autumn, perhaps if Caius Cambridge or the LSE were to offer Jorma something then he might say yes

[jimmie ray]

An "honorary" title is easy to accept - although it really degrades the original duty that person is supposed to be performing.
I would imagine the position of "Dean" requires more than that?

[Jon_G]

I agree: there is a world of difference between a well-meant if phoney 'graduation' and actually taking up a position in some college.
I was a student of the very imposing sounding Royal Scottish Academy Of Music And Drama, and guess what - I didn't graduate at all, and I am aware that there are issues surrounding a musician of Mr. Kaukonens staure getting out of his bed of a morning, let alone throwing on a gown and mortarboard in front of a crowd of vacant-eyed 21-year olds who think he's the janitor.
Where'd I hear this old gag? -
'that ther airplane band, they's all miming onstage!
- heck'n that dont matter nuthin Zeke, so's half their audience'

[jimmie ray]

I believe that Jorma is affectionately known as the "Captain" - so he's got an honary title, already! I hope he's sailing into local harbors again, real soon - and I can get on board!!

[FirstBassman]

Yes, Hocking’s offer to Jorma was to be a real legitimate dean of the department. It was not for an honorary degree.

[gTarFreak]

Department budgets, paperwork, political infighting, work, work, work, vs. play guitar and ride motorcycle. Gee, that must have been a tough one...

Cheers,
Dave