Gibson Brothers To Receive Honorary Doctorates!

Acclaimed bluegrass musicians and Rounder recording artists Eric and Leigh Gibson are to be honored by the State University of New York (SUNY) with honorary degrees of doctor of fine arts at SUNY Plattsburgh’s spring 2015 commencement, which will take place on May 15.

Both of the Gibsons are graduates of SUNY Plattsburgh: Eric Gibson received a BA in Secondary Education - English in 1993, and Leigh Gibson earned two bachelor’s degrees there: in 1994, he was awarded a Bachelor of Science in communication, and in 1996, he followed up with a BA in English.

The brothers, who grew up on a dairy farm in northern New York, have maintained deep ties to the region. Leigh Gibson reflects, “Attending Plattsburgh State allowed me a chance to experience a world outside of our small farming community.  Yet because of its close proximity to Ellenburg. I was able to stay close to the roots that make up such large part of my music.  I couldn't have made a better choice.”  Eric Gibson echoes his brother’s sentiment, adding,  “Receiving this honor is one of the nicest surprises of my life.  To be honored at our alma mater makes it even more special.  We have many great memories from our days at Plattsburgh State University.”

For more than two decades, they have been among the most admired and sought-after groups in the bluegrass world. Over the course of their career, the International Bluegrass Music Association has bestowed eleven awards on the Gibsons, including two consecutive “Entertainer of the Year” honors in 2012 and 2013.

The Gibson Brothers’ recently released album Brotherhood  has garnered high praise from critics. All Music’s Thom Jurek proclaimed “These covers -- many iconic, some obscure -- offer proof of the Gibson's own contribution to the bluegrass lineage with glorious harmonies and subtle liberties that carve these songs deeper into the American grain,” while the Boston Globe’s Stuart Munro called the brothers “an exemplar of the brother harmony tradition.”

Country Standard Time declared “But that's what Eric and Leigh Gibson have been doing for more than two decades now, putting out extraordinary music. It may be mostly in the bluegrass realm, but "Brotherhood" highlights their keen sense for and knowledge of what great country music sounds like.”