Leon Breeden

Submitted By jev0010 on Mon, 08/23/2010 - 2:46am
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.

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.

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