Monthly Archives: August 2015

Remembering Leon Breeden

Posted on August 11, 2015 by Bill

We lost Leon Breeden 4 years ago today.  A few of us had gone to see him that day in the hospital.  Jim Riggs, Dan Haerle, my wife-Susan, and I stood around his bedside talking to him for a little … Continue reading →

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My Liner Notes

Posted on August 11, 2015 by Bill

I figure that if you are going to read my blog, you deserve to know a little bit more about me and my musical experiences.  I have been very fortunate to get to do what I love for a living, … Continue reading →

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Tommy Newsome Direct to Disc album

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Bill

https://youtu.be/LD5Xm7ug3Ls Of all the albums Doc Severinsen recorded, I think this one sounds the most like the Tonight Show band.  It was a direct to disc recording, where all of the tunes on each side of the record have to … Continue reading →

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Dr. Gene Hall Recommends Leon Breeden

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Bill

In 1947, Dr. Gene Hall started what is now the Division of Jazz Studies at UNT.  I consider Dr. Hall to be the father of Jazz Education in this country and he was co-founder and first President of NAJE, the … Continue reading →

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More Jack Daugherty, featuring Chuck Findley

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Bill

  http://youtu.be/AfGtFAQEE_4 If you went to the fall 2014 concert of the UNT One O’Clock Lab Band, you’ll remember that Jay Saunders brought in Chuck Findley as the guest artist.  One of the tunes he played was basically this composition, … Continue reading →

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Jack Daughterty and The Class of 1971

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Bill

http://youtu.be/heO2lcTrGpc Jack Daugherty was a music producer in Los Angeles who is best known for producing some of the Carpenters music.  In 1971, he put together the top musicians in Los Angeles to record this album, which is one of … Continue reading →

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Nixon Resigns on August 9, 1974. That was the main headline of the day

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Bill

Today reminds me that Bill Chase was killed in a plane crash 41 years ago.  Bill was the great lead trumpet player with Woody Herman and others, and the leader of the rock group, Chase.  I’ll never forget hearing the … Continue reading →

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“Concerto for Trumpet” Doc Severinsen with the Paschal High School Band 1967

Posted on August 8, 2015 by Bill

https://youtu.be/1dyoiZeQg10 This was Doc Severinsen’s performance with the concert band in 1967.  He played the first half with the concert band, and the second half with the stage band.  We rehearsed all afternoon and only had the one concert that … Continue reading →

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Doc Severinsen Performing With the Paschal High School Stage Band in 1967

Posted on August 8, 2015 by Bill

When I was 16, Doc Severinsen was the guest soloist at our high school for one night.  It was a thrill for me to perform with him in the concert band and stage band.  The stage band at Paschal had … Continue reading →

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John Haynie Playing Trumpet in Denton, TX

Posted on August 7, 2015 by Bill

https://youtu.be/g7WmFdL-6bI As a graduate student at North Texas in the mid 70’s, I was able to study trumpet with John Haynie.  Years later, after he retired, I recorded him playing at a luncheon in Denton, TX.  He rarely played in … Continue reading →

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