This past May 5, the percussionist, educator, and author Richie Gajate-Garcia received an honorary doctorate of fine arts from Lincoln College in Lincoln, Illinois, in recognition of his contributions to the areas of the arts and music education. Gajate-Garcia is the author of four instructional books, a faculty instructor at the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood, and the inventor of the popular Latin Percussion Gajate Bracket pedal accessory. A longtime LP endorser, the drummer is also a creative collaborator on the manufacturer’s Richie Gajate-Garcia Signature congas, bongos, and djembe.