The Yucca, Yearbook of North Texas State University, 1974 Page: 63
64, 31, 67, 80, 32, 68 p. ; 31 cm.View a full description of this yearbook.
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"We had such large audiences it was like a concert," he
said. "I have to be cautious with my back to about 300 per-
sons, but with the closed sessions, I can let my hair down
and be one of the guys," he added.
Singers are a rarity with the bands, but in the fall, the 1
O'Clock used a Black female vocalist, Fort Worth graduate
student Sylvia Frye, who performed under the name Renee
Arden.
"Singers in general have not worked out well, though,
because the young men have come to get an instrumental
education," Breeden said. "When the guys are just sitting
down and playing whole notes, they feel they are being rob-
bed."
The lab bands have performed in fancy auditoriums and
concert halls in the United States, Mexico, South America
and Europe, but their rehearsal hall is a small cafetorium that
was part of an elementary school. Breeden's office was for-
merly a storeroom for food cans.
"There is not a man in our department that is pleased with
our facilities," Breeden said. "Lab bands have been here for
26 years, and they have only hand-me-down buildings," headded. "Our guests are astounded beyond words when they
see the conditions we practice under."
Complaints about the building are numerous from stu-
dents. Van Sickle said that with more facilities, the band
would be able to practice more than four hours a week.
According to Jeff Devand, 1 O'Clock guitarist from Bowie,
Md., one of the biggest problems is the facilities. "But you
learn to overlook certain things and just work harder," he
added.
Future plans for the university include a new music build-
ing and Breeden said he now sees a ray of hope. "I think the
present administration is anxious to help, and I am most
hopeful the future will be bright," he added.
Breeden also hopes the future will block out some of the
program's more embarrassing moments, such as the time
Cannonball Adderly visited and his chair collapsed.
The facilities may improve, but the reputation of the bands'
music does not need help. In the words of Tony Bennett, the
1 O'Clock "is probably the best of the college bands."
MARGARET TOAL
Inquiry-63
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North Texas State University. The Yucca, Yearbook of North Texas State University, 1974, yearbook, 1974; Denton, Texas. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth61043/m1/67/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.