Jazz educator Leon Breeden dies at 88

Leon Breeden, legendary director of the University of North Texas' jazz program who made its "One O'Clock Lab Band" internationally famous, has died.

Leon Breeden, legendary director of the University of North Texas' jazz program who made its "One O'Clock Lab Band" internationally famous, has died.

HT Image

Longtime friend Richard Cox said Breeden died on 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 win a Grammy.

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.