Texas university to honor King of Thailand

BANGKOK, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- The University of North Texas, in Denton, Texas, will bestow an honorary doctorate in music to Thailand's jazz-loving King.

The Bangkok Post reported Sunday that NTU is hoping to send a delegation to Thailand on the king's 76th birthday Dec. 5 to confer the honorary degree.

"It's unique for anybody to be in jazz -- especially kings," said Neil Slater, NTU jazz studies department chair and division head.

The king, born in Cambridge, Mass., plays the saxophone, piano, clarinet, guitar and violin and has written compositions in English and French focusing on jazz and blues.

At the age of 32, he was awarded honorary membership in the Vienna Institute of Music and Arts.

He has also played with famous musicians, such as Benny Goodman, Stan Getz, Lionel Hampton and Jack Teagarden, the Post said.