ObituaryLeon Breeden
Leon Breeden, Denton, Professor Emeritus of music who led UNT’s jazz program to international
prominence, died Aug. 11. Breeden served as director of the jazz studies program and
the One O’Clock Lab Band from 1959 to 1981. He started the band’s tradition of recording
an album every year and, under his direction, the One O’Clock earned its first two
Grammy nominations. A respected clarinetist, saxophonist, arranger and composer, Breeden
wrote arrangements performed by many groups, including the Boston Pops and the Cleveland
and Cincinnati orchestras. He was named an Honorary Alumnus at UNT in 1986. He earned
bachelor’s and master’s degrees from TCU and received honorary doctorates from TCU
and UNT. Memorials may be made to the Leon Breeden Music Scholarship or the Leon Breeden
Jazz Trumpet Scholarship in the College of Music. Visit the jazz studies division's
"A Leon Breeden Retrospective" for photos and documents and "Remembering Leon Breeden"
to share your memories.