Rock guitarist Jimmy Page had a busy weekend.

Not only was the Led Zeppelin member honored with a performance from Berklee College graduates but he received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the institution as well.  Page gave the commencement address Saturday to nearly 900 graduates and 6,000 guests in a class with graduates hailing from 66 countries.

The student musicians paid tribute to the honorees with a concert featuring their music the night before the ceremony.  The next day, inspired by their tribute, Page tossed aside his prepared remarks and spoke from the heart.  He told the new graduates that their love of music would sustain them through the unexpected twists and turns that lied ahead and closed by wishing them the best of luck.

“Ashford and Simpson” member Valerie Simpson, Jazz pianist Geri Allen, and composer Thara Memory also received honorary degrees at the ceremony. They gave acceptance remarks as well. The graduates will follow in the footsteps of alumni who are innovators in music. Berklee alumni are winners of more than 300 Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards, including Quincy Jones, Diana Krall, John Mayer, Melissa Etheridge, and Lalah Hathaway.

Page was the guitarist for the British band that fused blues, R&B and rock ‘n’ roll for a new hard rock sound in the 1970s. It disbanded in 1980.