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Bobby Osborne will receive an honorary Associate Degree in Humane Letters for his bluegrass music contributions and his work as an adjunct faculty member at Hazard Community and Technical College, since the Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music (KSBTM) opened. Osborne will be honored during May 15 graduation ceremonies at The Forum in Hazard at 10 a.m.
Dean Osborne, KSBTM director, said he is extremely pleased to see Bobby honored in this way. “Bobby Osborne has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1964, has performed at the White House as well as all 50 states and many foreign countries. He is internationally known as a master vocalist and mandolin player, but this honor recognizes his contribution to education and to the preservation of bluegrass. I say that because Bobby Osborne has put his heart and soul into our music school.”
Bobby Osborne, age 78, said he is feels very honored to receive such recognition for his teaching at the music school. “I never expected anything like this to happen to me in my life. I’m very proud the administration thinks that much of me to honor me in this way,” noted the man who has spent more than 60 years in the music business.
HCTC President/CEO Dr. Allen Goben noted this is the first time the College has presented such an honorary degree. “We couldn’t be happier to honor Bobby Osborne in this way since he is a legend in the music world and a stand-out in our eyes because what he has made possible for our students. He has unselfishly devoted his time, energy, and expertise to help our program become a national leader.”
Presenting the honor will be Dr. Jay K. Box, Chancellor of KCTCS, who served as President of HCTC when the music school first started. Bobby was the first artist to record what would later become the Tennessee state song and the most recorded song in bluegrass history, “Rocky Top.” The Osborne Brothers remain the only act to have recorded official state songs for two states–the aforementioned Rocky Top for Tennessee and “Kentucky” for the Commonwealth. In 2005, Bobby became a solo artist launching his band, “The Rocky Top X-Press”.
Osborne has released numerous recordings since the 1950s. He was named to the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor in 1994 and the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2002. Most recently, Bobby was honored in 2009 with his second induction into the IBMA’s Hall of Honor as a member of the legendary “Lonesome Pine Fiddlers.” Bobby joins Roy Rogers (Country Music Hall Of Fame) as only other artist in history to be inducted into the same Hall of Honor/Fame two different times.
Bobby Osborne remembers that his father, Robert Osborne, a teacher in Leslie County, wanted him to be a doctor. “But I knew in my heart that the music world is where I wanted to be.”
The honorary degree for Osborne was approved by the KCTC Board of Regents at their March 12 meeting.
For more information about the Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music, call 800-246-7521, ext. 73630.

Bobby Osborne & the Rocky Top X-Press will not be appearing at the Christmas in the Smokies Bluegrass Festival in Pigeon Forge, TN.  December 12, 2009.  There have been a few misunderstandings, and it’s one of those things, and we can’t do anything about it.  For information about refunds, please contact the Larkin Family.