Earl Wild Click photo for larger image.

Bill Cosby will deliver the keynote address at Carnegie Mellon University's commencement on May 20, but I am more interested in another part of the ceremony in Gesling Stadium: Earl Wild will receive an honorary doctorate.

One of the titans of the piano in the 20th century, Wild attended the institution in the 1930s and has taught there off and on from 1992. This year is actually his last, since the 91-year-old has moved to Palm Springs from Columbus.

"It is not easy to fly around," says his manager Michael Rolland Davis. Wild had heart surgery in 2004 and now has a pacemaker. "I think he will stay put in California and have people visit him."

Davis has bigger news: Wild has retired from public performing.

"He still plays for friends at home and will teach privately but he will not perform or record anymore," said Davis.

That's to be expected, but it's still a shame. It seems like yesterday that Wild was astounding audiences with his abilities at 90 in concerts around the country.

Wild is one amazing story. At age 14, the Knoxville, Pittsburgh, native was the resident pianist with the Pittsburgh Symphony and by 21 he was staff pianist for NBC. From there it was a stellar career in halls all around the world. I did a long profile of him in 2000 that is worth glancing at, and you can also visit Ivory Classics for recordings.

Wild will be in Pittsburgh for the commencement ceremony and is sorry his relationship has to end.

"He loves it there, the people and the school," says Davis. If you are interested, you can watch the ceremony live at www.cmu.edu/commencement.