Jazz educator Leon Breeden, who made ‘One O’Clock Lab Band’ famous, dies at 88
By APWednesday, August 11, 2010
Jazz educator Leon Breeden dies at 88
DENTON, Texas — Leon Breeden, legendary director of the University of North Texas’ jazz program who made its “One O’Clock Lab Band” internationally famous, has died.
Longtime friend Richard Cox said Breeden died Wednesday afternoon of complications from an abdominal infection. He was at a Dallas hospital.
Breeden led the jazz program and “One O’Clock Lab Band” from 1959 to 1981. It became the first college band to perform at the White House by presidential invitation in 1967. It also began to tour internationally and became the first college band to receive a Grammy nomination.
The band was named for its rehearsal time.
Among Breeden’s students were future jazz pianist and composer Lyle Mays and veteran studio musicians and sidemen “Blue Lou” Marini and Marvin Stamm.
(This version CORRECTS that the band received a Grammy nomination, not a Grammy. )
