Dr. John and Allen Toussaint, two favorite sons of New Orleans, received honorary degrees from Tulane University in New Orleans at its 2013 Commencement held at the Superdome on Saturday morning. Both Grammy Award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees received honorary doctor of fine arts degrees and performed together in a short set at the school's commencement ceremony. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, who delivered the keynote address at the event, received an honorary doctorate of humane letters. Natasha Trethewey, the United States poet laureate and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for poetry, was awarded a doctor of humane letters.

University President Scott Cowen, in announceing the honrary degrees earlier this year, cited Dr. John, whose Nonesuch debut album, Locked Down, earned the Grammy for Best Blues Album earlier this year, for his "one-of-a-kind blend of voodoo mysticism, funk, rhythm and blues, psychedelic rock and Creole roots music." Cowen describes Dr. John, aka Mac Rebennack, as "a tireless advocate for New Orleans recovery, through fundraising concerts and recordings."

Cowen went on to describe Toussaint, whose 2009 Nonesuch debut album, The Bright Mississippi explores the work of his New Orleans forebears, as "one of contemporary music's most influential songwriters, composers and producers ... [who] has been helping to keep New Orleans music alive and thriving for decades."

For coverage from the event, visit tulane.edu.