East Central University (ECU) is proud to announce that distinguished alumnus Kitt Wakeley will serve as the keynote speaker for ECU’s Spring Commencement Ceremony at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, 2025. The commencement ceremonies will be held at the Kerr Activities Center (Kerr Dome) on ECU’s campus.
Wakeley, a 1993 graduate of ECU, is a two-time Grammy® Award-winning and four-time Grammy®-nominated composer, artist, and producer, with seven #1 Billboard hits and a total of 21 top-10 Billboard charting positions. He is a voting member of the Recording Academy® and a current Governor for its Texas Chapter.
Known for his collaborations with the London Symphony and Royal Philharmonic orchestras, as well as iconic musicians such as Joe Satriani, Nuno Bettencourt, Nita Strauss, and Orianthi, Wakeley continues to make a major impact in the music industry. His recent projects have earned three Grammy® nominations for 2025 in the categories of Traditional Pop, Global Album, and Classical Compendium, including work on the acclaimed Impossible Dream album featuring artists like Sting, Josh Groban, Neil Patrick Harris, Loren Allred, Kristin Chenoweth, Kelli O’Hara, and Leslie Odom Jr.
In addition to his Grammy® achievements, Wakeley has been inducted into the Indie Music Hall of Fame and has received multiple Hollywood Music in Media Awards, ICMAs, and Josie Music Awards for honors including Producer of the Year and Artist of the Year. His dynamic live performances—seen in sold-out venues like Carnegie Hall and the Oklahoma City Civic Center—blend powerful music with dramatic lighting, video, and personal storytelling.
East Central University will host two commencement ceremonies on May 17, 2025, with the first beginning at 10:00 a.m. and the second at 2:00 p.m., during which Wakeley will address graduates, families, and guests.
For a complete biography on Kitt Wakeley, visit Kitt Wakeley’s Wikipedia page.