LEON BREEDEN
1922 - 2010
Arguably the most noted jazz music educator that a U.S. college or university has ever had was Leon Breeden.
Dr. Breeden passed away from natural causes at Southwest Medical Center in Dallas about 3:30 PM on August 11, 2010. He was 88-years old.
His funeral will be held on Monday afternoon, August 16, at 3:00 at the Denton Bible Church, 2300 East University Boulevard in Denton.
Those of you who have read my blogs and newspaper columns over the years know that Dr. Breeden and I were closed friends for more than fifty years, although I never studied under him and I doubt he ever heard me play the piano.
There are thousands of musicians, his former students, who are working today, many famous. Their talents were jump started by Leon Breeden as they learned to play in his famous jazz bands, known by the time of day the classes met. The most famous of the bands and the one that all students strived to join was the One O'clock Lab Band.
Dr. Breeden's bands recorded scores of LPs, cassette tapes and CDs throughout his twenty year tenure. Several won Grammys. All of those recordings are available today.
The One O'clock Lab Band played at the White House for several presidents, and for the heads of state of foreign countries, and for large audiences throughout the U.S. and a good portion of the world.
One thing I have noticed over the years is how sparse the attendance is at the funerals of most educators. It seems such a paradox. The last time I went to one, it was for a high school math teacher; the best one at the school, and the one so many readily credited as very important to their personal education. Other than I, I doubt there were ten other former students in attendance at her funeral.
My wife, a retired teacher and school counselor, says, "Well that's just the way it is."
I hope that will not be the case with the services for Dr. Leon Breeden this coming Monday.
BILL CHERRY, REALTORS
DALLAS - PARK CITIES
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