# Floyd Graham > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Floyd_Graham > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Floyd_Graham.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floyd_Graham > Source revision: 1211534141 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American musician (1902–1974)}} '''Floyd Freeman Graham''' (aka ''' 'Fessor''') (October 15, 1902 – August 18, 1974 in [Denton, Texas](/source/Denton%2C_Texas)) was a US collegiate bandleader and music educator who founded and directed the [Aces of Collegeland](/source/Aces_of_Collegeland) in 1927, the university dance band, pit orchestra and stage band of the [University of North Texas College of Music](/source/University_of_North_Texas_College_of_Music). He also was a violinist."Social Affairs: Madden-Thomas Marriage," ''[Dallas Morning News](/source/Dallas_Morning_News)'', pg. 6, July 11, 1924 The Aces of Collegeland was the forerunner to the [One O'Clock Lab Band](/source/One_O'Clock_Lab_Band). Graham laid the groundwork at North Texas for what became the first college degree in jazz studies. Many of the Ace's band members and Saturday night participants became a "who's who" in the performing arts – as members of famous big bands, film, and singers. '''Notable Saturday Night Performers with the Aces'''"Aces Leave Their Mark on Nation," ''[Denton Record-Chronicle](/source/Denton_Record-Chronicle)'', sec. 3, pg 4, August 28, 1960 {{div col|colwidth=18em}} * [Ann Sheridan](/source/Ann_Sheridan) * [Joan Blondell](/source/Joan_Blondell) * [Louise Tobin](/source/Louise_Tobin) * [Nancy Jane Gates](/source/Nancy_Jane_Gates) * [Linda Darnell](/source/Linda_Darnell) * [Pat Boone](/source/Pat_Boone) {{div col end}} '''Notable "Aces" Alumni''' {{div col|colwidth=18em}} * [Harry Babasin](/source/Harry_Babasin) * [Bob Dorough](/source/Bob_Dorough) * [Herb Ellis](/source/Herb_Ellis) * [Jimmy Giuffre](/source/Jimmy_Giuffre) * [Charles W. LaRue](/source/Charles_W._LaRue) * [William F. Lee III](/source/William_F._Lee_III) * [William Ennis Thomson](/source/William_Ennis_Thomson) * [JB Floyd](/source/JB_Floyd) {{div col end}} In 1971, the University of North Texas Student Government Association designated him as "Honor Professor,"Pat Colonna, "NT's Professor to Retire after 46 Years," ''[Denton Record-Chronicle](/source/Denton_Record-Chronicle)'', May 11, 1973 and upon retirement May 31, 1973,"NTSU to Honor Retirees," ''[Denton Record-Chronicle](/source/Denton_Record-Chronicle)'', pg. 7A, May 4, 1973 the regents awarded him the lifetime status of [professor emeritus](/source/professor_emeritus)."Regents Approve Building," ''[Denton Record-Chronicle](/source/Denton_Record-Chronicle)'', pg. 2A, May 25, 1973 He was the university's first professor emeritus."Floyd Fessor Graham," ''[Denton Record-Chronicle](/source/Denton_Record-Chronicle)'', pg. 4A, August 20, 1974 ==Education== Graham earned a Bachelor of Arts from the [University of North Texas](/source/University_of_North_Texas_College_of_Music). Graham earned a Teachers Certificate from [Chicago Musical College](/source/Chicago_Musical_College) in 1927 and a Bachelor of Music degree in violin from [Chicago Musical College](/source/Chicago_Musical_College) in August 1931. While attending [Chicago Musical College](/source/Chicago_Musical_College), Graham studied violin with Max Ignatz Fischel (1878–1937) (Head of the Normal Department), ear training with Harold Burnham Maryott (born 1878), music history with [Herbert Witherspoon](/source/Herbert_Witherspoon) (1873–1935); [harmony](/source/harmony) and [counterpoint](/source/counterpoint) with Hans Franklin Madsen (1887–1971), and [composition](/source/music_composition), [counterpoint](/source/counterpoint), and [solfeggio](/source/solfeggio) with [Wesley LaViolette](/source/Wesley_LaViolette) (1894–1978).Alumni Records, [Chicago College of Performing Arts](/source/Chicago_College_of_Performing_Arts) at [Roosevelt University](/source/Roosevelt_University) Graham also earned a Master of Music degree from the [American Conservatory of Music](/source/American_Conservatory_of_Music)."Famous Teachers College Stage Band Starts Jubilee Year with Prospects for Outstanding Season," ''[Denton Record-Chronicle](/source/Denton_Record-Chronicle)'', September 22, 1939 At the [American Conservatory of Music](/source/American_Conservatory_of_Music), Graham had been a pupil of: * Herbert Dalton Butler (1867–1946) – violin * [Leo Sowerby](/source/Leo_Sowerby) (1895–1968) – composition & counterpoint In Texas, Graham had been a pupil of: * [Carl Venth](/source/Carl_Venth) (1860–1938) He also had been a pupil of: * [Fritz Mahler](/source/Fritz_Mahler) * [Ferde Grofé](/source/Ferde_Grof%C3%A9) (1892–1972)''Yucca: 50th Anniversary Edition'' (North Texas State Teachers College yearbook), vol. 34, pg. 341 (1940) == Family and growing up == Floyd Graham was the son of Schyler Colfax Graham (1869–1931), a Denton grocer, and Rockie Virginia Graham ''née'' (1879–1954) Freeman. Floyd Graham first exhibited his interest in music by experimenting with a [cigar-box violin](/source/Cigar_box_guitar) while in grade school.Obituary: "Floyd Graham, NTSU Music Pioneer, Dies," ''[Dallas Morning News](/source/Dallas_Morning_News)'', pg. 3, August 19, 1974 Floyd Graham married Doris Patricia Howard on September 2, 1942."Marriages: Graham–Howard," ''[Dallas Morning News](/source/Dallas_Morning_News)'', September 3, 1942 They had a daughter, Patricia (Pati) (Graham) Haworth. ==Publications== {{refbegin|2}} * Floyd Freeman Graham, ''Public relations in music education, a study'', Exposition Press, New York (1954) * Floyd Freeman Graham, ''For Music Literature'', (Unknown Binding) (1965) * Floyd Freeman Graham, ''For music appreciation; a course outline to supplement the teaching of music appreciation'', Denton, Tex., Howard Pub. Co., [Denton, TX](/source/Denton%2C_TX) (1960) {{refend}} ==Notes and references== {{reflist|2}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Graham, Floyd}} Category:American music educators Category:1902 births Category:1974 deaths Category:American Conservatory of Music alumni Category:Chicago Musical College alumni Category:University of North Texas College of Music faculty Category:American jazz educators Category:20th-century American musicians --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Floyd Graham](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floyd_Graham) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floyd_Graham?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.