Lanarkshire students were left gobsmacked when Stevie Wonder’s manager just called to say hello and offer some first-rate advice into the bargain.
Industry legend Keith Harris spoke with music students at New College Lanarkshire (NCL) in an online guest lecture - and his appearance hit all the right notes.
A graduate of Dundee University, Keith has a plethora of experience within the music industry, which most notably includes managing and representing Stevie Wonder since 1977.
He is a former chairman of the Music Managers’ Forum, a consultant for Phonographic Performance Limited and a trustee of the Universal Music Sound Foundation.
Keith was given an OBE in the 2015 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to the music industry.
Students from HNC and HND music, along with music business and sound production students, were lucky enough to attend the online event, which was organised by NCL’s music lecturer Scott Cowie.
Music student Diane Walker told Lanarkshire Live : “When Scott announced that Keith was going to speak to us, our class WhatsApp group chat lit up.
"Given we are not just studying the performance side of music, but learning about the business as well, there is genuinely no one better to speak to us on that front to help us prepare for what’s ahead in our careers.”
Diane’s classmate Ryan Fyffe added: “Before I started studying music at the college, I had heard so much about the course and knew that Lewis Capaldi and Yungblud’s Adam Warrington had studied here.
"Giving students the chance to talk directly to Stevie Wonder’s manager and ask him questions goes to show that there is nowhere better to study than New College Lanarkshire.”
Scott Cowie said: “Keith’s insight was invaluable for our students, especially given his experience at the highest level for so many years.”
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