# Rusty Higgins

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rusty_Higgins
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rusty_Higgins.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusty_Higgins
> Source revision: 1238854675
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

**Rusty Higgins** is an [American](/source/Americans) music master, [saxophonist](/source/Saxophone), [arranger](/source/Arrangement), [composer](/source/Composer), and [session musician](/source/Session_musician). As a member of the [Bob Florence](/source/Bob_Florence) Limited Edition, Higgins won the [Grammy Award](/source/Grammy_Awards) in 2000 for [Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album](/source/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Large_Jazz_Ensemble_Album) for *[Serendipity 18](/source/Serendipity_18)*. Based in [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles), Higgins has [performed](/source/Performance) with [Frank Sinatra](/source/Frank_Sinatra), [Sammy Davis Jr.](/source/Sammy_Davis_Jr.), [Aretha Franklin](/source/Aretha_Franklin), [Ralph Carmichael](/source/Ralph_Carmichael), [Les Brown](/source/Les_Brown_(bandleader)), and [Toni Tennille](/source/Toni_Tennille).[citation needed]

## Early life

Higgins was born in [Akron, Ohio](/source/Akron,_Ohio), and attended [Cuyahoga Falls High School](/source/Cuyahoga_Falls_High_School) in [Cuyahoga Falls](/source/Cuyahoga_Falls,_Ohio), Ohio, and graduated in 1967. He went to [Kent State University](/source/Kent_State_University) to pursue a [major](/source/Academic_major) in [Bassoon](/source/Bassoon) Performance. He then traveled with many different bands for five years before moving to [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles), where he has served as a woodwind doubler ([saxophone](/source/Saxophone), [clarinet](/source/Clarinet), [flute](/source/Flute)) for 39 years. His primary experiences include extensive [recording studio](/source/Recording_studio), theater, and jazz concert work. He has conducted [master classes](/source/Master_class), [clinics](/source/Clinic_(music)), and jazz workshops at [high schools](/source/Secondary_school) throughout [California](/source/California) and [Ohio](/source/Ohio), [Kent State University](/source/Kent_State_University), and the [Shanghai Conservatory of Music](/source/Shanghai_Conservatory_of_Music).

## Career

Higgins was a featured sax soloist with [Les Brown's](/source/Les_Brown_(bandleader)) Band of Renown. He joined [Captain & Tennille](/source/Captain_%26_Tennille) in 1979 and served as [Toni Tennille's](/source/Toni_Tennille) symphony orchestra conductor beginning in 1984,[1] conducting more than 70 [orchestras](/source/Orchestra). He played for both of [President Reagan's](/source/Ronald_Reagan) [presidential inaugural balls](/source/United_States_presidential_inaugural_balls). He has also worked with [Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band](/source/Gordon_Goodwin's_Big_Phat_Band), [Louis Bellson](/source/Louis_Bellson), [Clark Terry](/source/Clark_Terry), [Ray Anthony](/source/Ray_Anthony), [Toshiko Akiyoshi](/source/Toshiko_Akiyoshi), [Bill Holman](/source/Bill_Holman_(musician)), [Tom Kubis](/source/Tom_Kubis), [Wayne Bergeron](/source/Wayne_Bergeron), [Nelson Riddle](/source/Nelson_Riddle), [Jack Sheldon](/source/Jack_Sheldon), [Ray Charles](/source/Ray_Charles), [Buddy Miles](/source/Buddy_Miles), and the [L.A. Rams](/source/Los_Angeles_Rams) Band. Higgins has recorded or performed with [Barbra Streisand](/source/Barbra_Streisand), [Tony Bennett](/source/Tony_Bennett), [Mel Tormé](/source/Mel_Torm%C3%A9), [Natalie Cole](/source/Natalie_Cole), [Rosemary Clooney](/source/Rosemary_Clooney), [Sting](/source/Sting_(musician)), [Kenny G](/source/Kenny_G), [Arturo Sandoval](/source/Arturo_Sandoval), [Michael Buble](/source/Michael_Bubl%C3%A9), [Michael Feinstein](/source/Michael_Feinstein), [the Temptations](/source/The_Temptations), [Diana Ross](/source/Diana_Ross), [Manhattan Transfer](/source/The_Manhattan_Transfer), [Stevie Wonder](/source/Stevie_Wonder), [Johnny Cash](/source/Johnny_Cash), and [Avenged Sevenfold](/source/Avenged_Sevenfold).

Higgins has been teaching saxophone at [Azusa Pacific University](/source/Azusa_Pacific_University) since 2002. He directs the Azusa Pacific Jazz Ensemble No. 2 and teaches a course in [woodwind techniques](/source/Musical_technique). He owns and manages his own store, Long Beach Woodwinds.

## References

1. ["The Phil Norman Tentet"](http://www.philnormantentet.com/playersarrangers.html). *www.philnormantentet.com*. Retrieved 13 April 2017.

## External links

- [Rusty Higgins on AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/rusty-higgins-mn0000218181)
- [Rusty Higgins on Discogs](https://www.discogs.com/artist/1121730-Rusty-Higgins)
- [Rusty Higgins on IMDB](https://www.discogs.com/artist/1121730-Rusty-Higgins)
- [Rusty Higgins on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/rusty.higgins)
- [Azusa Pacific University Biography](https://www.apu.edu/music/faculty/dhiggins/)
- [Rusty Higgins on RYM](https://www.apu.edu/music/faculty/dhiggins/)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rusty Higgins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusty_Higgins) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusty_Higgins?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.