Soul speaks at ENMU

PORTALES - Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, passed away in August. But her influence lived on during the commencement address at Eastern New Mexico University's graduation ceremony on Saturday at Greyhound Arena.

Addressing 4,000-plus ENMU graduates, their families and friends, associate music professor Richard Schwartz detailed his experience performing with Franklin - including five takeaways for the students as they prepare to leave the university.

ENMU officials said a record-breaking 563 students earned degrees this semester. About half of them participated in Saturday's ceremony.

Schwartz told the crowd that when he was a doctoral student at Boston University, he returned a voicemail from the personnel director of the Boston Pops. The Pops were looking for a saxophonist to perform the following night.

Schwartz received the message after a full day of work. He called the personnel director back at 10 p.m. and received the gig, leading to his first point to graduates: returning communications as quickly as possible can lead to future job possibilities.

As the gig included a performance with Franklin, Schwartz also encouraged the graduates to surround themselves with influential people.

Though Schwartz was expected to ad lib a saxophone solo during a performance of "Respect" with Franklin, he detailed the effort and $50 he spent to find a copy of the original recording of the song so he could perform the solo as King Curtis did on the track.

"When given an opportunity do not simply do your job. Be sure to do your job well by going above and beyond what is expected," Schwartz said as his third takeaway.

While Schwartz said he felt Franklin had appreciated his extra effort - based on a look she gave him - the artist introduced the musicians she toured with to the crowd but said she would mention the names of the local musicians like Schwartz later. But later never came.

"When completing a task with your extra time and effort do not expect any accolades, just consider that this is a standard that you personally believe in," Schwartz said.

Following the performance, Schwartz left notes for the solo in the music folder for the next musician, telling the graduates to pay it forward in their professional lives and help others.

Schwartz finished his commencement address by performing the 17-second saxophone solo and encouraging the graduates to follow the five lessons of his experience.

"When you have such an opportunity in your field, I want you ... to think, because you better think, Aretha Franklin," Schwartz said.