Abraham Laboriel, Patrice Rushen, and STEVE GADD received honorary doctor of music degrees for their outstanding contributions to contemporary music, and treated the crowd to a surprise performance at Berklee College of Music's 2005 Entering Student Convocation, Friday, Sept. 2005, at the Berklee Performance Center. STEVE GADD, one of the most in-demand drummers in the world, and has worked with such artists as Joe Cocker, Stevie Wonder Paul Simon, and Aretha Franklin, among many others, said after accepting his degree that the honor was extra-special because he was sharing the moment with Rushen, and Laboriel, two of his closest musical peers. "This is probably my only chance to get a honorary degree because I'm not the greatest student in the world." said Gadd.