Blues Legend Becomes UCW's 11th Honorary Degree Recipient

Blues Legend Becomes UCW's 11th Honorary Degree Recipient

VANCOUVER, Canada, July 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --



If you were to think of University Canada West's [https://ucanwest.ca ] (UCW) newest
honorary degree recipient as a book, his true depth would likely escape you, unless you
knew him as a book with many covers.



(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160713/813877 )


 



Tom Lavin [http://powderblues.net/bio ], UCW's 2016 honorary degree recipient, and the
university's 11th to date, is primarily known as an accomplished musician and record
producer who was a founding member of Canada's legendary Powder Blues Band in 1978.



On July 15 in a convocation ceremony that begins at 11 a.m. at Vancouver's Italian
Cultural Centre [http://italianculturalcentre.ca ], Lavin will formally be awarded his UCW
degree before the university's 28 graduands of 2016 are granted theirs. UCW President
Arthur Coren [https://ucanwest.ca/about-ucw/president-message ] will preside over the one
hour and 15 minute ceremony, which concludes with a reception at 1 p.m. Media and the
public are invited. 



Despite major record labels' initially cool reception of the Power Blues' debut album,
Uncut, the now world-famous band has gone on to sell more than one million records
worldwide and has toured continuously for the last 38+ years. 



Known for its mix of swing, blues, jazz, rock & roll and r & b that gets people of all
ages bopping, the band's sound has garnered numerous international awards. Among the
highlights are Canada's Juno in 1981, Canadian Music Industry Association (CMIA) awards
for Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter and Producer of the Year in 1980 and the LA Reader Award
for the Indie Film Score of the Year-Dennis Hopper's film Out of the Blue in 1980. 



Tom Lavin & the Legendary Powder Blues have also appeared in concert with the Who, ZZ
Top, Willie Dixon, John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, James Brown, Stevie Ray Vaughn and the
Doobie Brothers.  They headlined the internationally lauded Montreux Jazz Festival in
Switzerland in 1983. 



Lesser known are Lavin's achievements as a high tech, venture capital consultant, CEO
of several public companies and founder of a private college. 



In 1992, the Chicago-born blues musician was appointed managing director of a film SFX
software firm at George Lucas' Lantana Complex in Santa Monica, California. In 1994, Lavin
started one of the first Internet services in Canada (Axion.net) and took it public on the
Canadian Exchange (CDNX).  



In 1997, he became CEO of MegaChain.com Ltd., which traded on NASDAQ. He consulted for
venture capital firms on projects including on-line gaming, virtual reality, GPS
technology, wireless communications, stereo endoscopy, frequency counting technology,
audio processors and micro electro-mechanical systems.  



In 1999, he founded and wrote curriculum for Pacific Audio Visual Institute (PAVI), a
government-accredited private post-secondary technical college, and acted as its director
until its sale in 2015. Ironically, UCW purchased much of PAVI's classroom and office
equipment. 



Lavin's Socratic approach to learning is the likely architect of the many covers that
would have to adorn any book telling his professional story. 



"Learning, musically or otherwise, is all about exploration," says Lavin, who moved to
Vancouver in 1969 to study film and work as a recording studio musician. 



"There is a time and place for learning in solitude, in pairs and in groups, however,
first and foremost to me is the importance of 'beginner's mind' -being able to approach an
investigation without preconception." 



"For example, my music production generated an interest in echo, which led to my
pursuit of digital delays. This in turn caused me to investigate digital information
packets, which resulted in my creating one of Western Canada's first public Internet
services," offers Lavin about his learning journey. 



But Lavin admits it's not just his gift for connecting ideational dots that has
propelled his Renaissance man-like career path. It's his passion for business
communication, a very fitting attribute for UCW graduands to emulate going forward into
the business world. 



"A famous successful jazz musician once said that the music business properly pursued
is 50 per cent music, 50 per cent business.  I think this can apply to all fields. It's
not enough to have a great idea; one needs to be able to communicate the concept," advises
Lavin. "Be ready and able to share your vision verbally in three minutes. Refining a
statement like this will also aid in making it clear to yourself what your true goals
are."  



Reaction to Tom Lavin becoming a UCW honorary degree recipient  




- "Tom Lavin is a fabulous musician who`s made a large contribution to music and
Canada. As a bandleader he should be used as a model for others in that
position. Those fortunate enough to work with him are treated with respect and
dignity."
- Gary Kendall, (Maple Blues All Stars Awards - Downchild) Multiple winner of
Canadian Bassist of the Year  
- "Tom Lavin accomplished the amazing feat of bringing not one, or two, but many blues
songs to mainstream radio. I cannot believe this has gone unmentioned for this long.
He defined for me what a Canadian blues guitarist sounded like.  I love the guy.
Congratulations Tom!"
- Bill Johnson, Juno award winning blues guitarist  
- "Not only being a wealth of knowledge, Tom brought to Canada the soul of a true
Chicago blues man. His songs and voice evoke true artistry."
- Matt Petley-Jones, petley jones gallery, Dealers in Contemporary and Historical
Art  


About University Canada West (UCW) 



UCW is part of the Global University Systems 
[http://www.globaluniversitysystems.com/about-us ] (GUS) international network of
higher-education institutions headquartered in the Netherlands. With institutions and
affiliates across the UK, Canada, Germany and Singapore the group educates more than
50,000 students from 160 different nationalities. 



UCW delivers programs that provide students with the applied and theoretical basis for
success in the workplace and future academic endeavours. Established in 2004 by David
Strong, former University of Victoria president, UCW offers quality education with courses
that transfer broadly into the public education system. Courses are offered at UCW's
downtown Vancouver campus and online. For more information visit www.ucanwest.ca
[http://www.ucanwest.ca ]






Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160713/813877


Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160713/813877
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Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160713/813877
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
University Canada West (UCW)

CONTACT: Contact: news@globaluniversitysystems.com, +44 (0) 20 3535 1294


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