What we do for ourselves dies with us but what we do for others becomes our legacy. Even with this sentiment, loss is hard. It’s even harder when it’s the person who was always there when we needed anything…ever.
My father, Leon C. Bradley (1938-2017) was born & raised in Battle Creek, MI the son of a contractor/electrician & an accountant. He told stories of working on his Grandpa’s farm to help provide for the family during WWII, defending himself on his journey to/from school & working with his father building houses starting when he was just 10 years old.
In High School he led a band of his classmates that played for events around MI. He & his father were very similar in temperament and their relationship was often strained. This led to his wanting to leave as soon as he could after graduating. Having a birthday in September, he graduated when he was 17 in 1956. Soon after, his father signed over “loco parentis” to Woody Herman so he could tour with the band as a minor. Really.
*Photo from alamy.com
He’s the trombone player shown farthest to the right. Years later, at a jazz convention in Kansas City, MO our family got on an elevator & to our surprise there stood Woody Herman. He & Dad began chatting & we were invited up to his room to reminisce. Dad reminded him of the time he spent on the band & Woody confessed that he didn’t remember many of the guys from that era. In 1987 Dad helped bring Woody’s band to Branson, MO & we again met up with him. He couldn’t have been nicer remembering all of us & our time together in Kansas City. But I digress….
After touring with Woody Herman he enrolled at Michigan State as a Veterinary Medicine major. A professor in the music department, Oscar Stover, knew of his musical talents & convinced him the move would be worth it (and the cows wouldn’t miss him). He studied trombone with John Swallow & euphonium with Leonard Falcone. A theory teacher soon discovered he had the gift of perfect pitch; perfect recall of any pitch he heard. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in 1961 and soon after went on the road with the Stan Kenton Orchestra.
He’s the trombone player next to the drums. There were many great musicians on that unique “Mellophonium” band. He learned a ton from Kenton’s leadership & remained friends with him & many of those musicians. The Kenton band spent some time a few summers at Drury College in Springfield, MO during their jazz education clinics. He was a very warm, welcoming & charismatic leader that lit up every room he was in. This was a quality Dad inherited from his father! Back on track….
He returned to his alma mater as a graduate assistant in the theory department completing his Master’s in 1967. He was the first person ever to complete the Brass Specialists degree & probably the only one to do so on all 5 brass instruments. One of his theory professors, Dr. Evan Copley, was teaching at the University of Northern Colorado during my Master’s degree. Dr. Copley remembered Dad fondly…small world!
He had several teaching stops including a summer gig in 1967 with Motown Records as a recording engineer before landing a job at Minot State College in North Dakota. He met my mother there who was professor of piano. This began their enjoyment of performing together for the rest of his life. They married at her parents home in Oklahoma in December of 1968. Their honeymoon took them to Yosemite National Park & the Bracebridge renaissance dinner hosted by Ansel Adams. They continued to Pasadena where Dad led the Minot State marching band in the Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1, 1969. He also started the jazz ensemble there which is still in the curriculum today.
*Picture from Minot State University web-site
Due to nepotism rules of that time, they couldn’t be married & teach in the same department. The job search was on! They began teaching at a small “work” college in southwest MO, School of the Ozarks, in the fall of 1969. The president of the college at the time, Dr. M. Graham Clark, recognized the need for a comprehensive music education degree program & hired Dad to create it. He did & a few short years later the band program was going strong with many instrumental ensembles anchoring the program. He provided many opportunities for his students including bringing in big name music groups to campus & arranging for the jazz band to perform for the Miss MO pageant 13 straight years.
My parents bought a piece of land in a subdivision just outside Branson. They rented for years before we moved on campus while they saved to build on their dream home. In 1983 they broke ground. Dad & his father along with our Mom & other MI contractors worked hard & we moved in later that year.
He retired from the College of the Ozarks (formerly School of the Ozarks) in 1993 having inspired countless students over his tenure. In 1995, he accepted a position at the Xian Conservatory of Music in China where he directed chamber music ensembles and founded the first American symphonic band in the country. During retirement he was a visiting professor at Southwest Baptist University and continued to teach private lessons in Springfield, Branson and Lebanon.
Throughout his life, he was active in many professional organizations and held honorary memberships in Phi Beta Mu and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Over the years, he authored numerous articles and other contributions to scholarly journals and publications. He was a charter member of the Missouri Jazz Educator’s Association serving as Treasurer for 25 years. For his expertise and dedicated service to jazz education he was given the “Jess Cole” lifetime achievement award in 2003.
During his career, he remained an active performer with the Springfield Symphony and Regional Opera Orchestras, led the Abou ben Adhem Shrine band and co-founded the Branson Brass Quintet & MOzark Brass Quintet. His clinician & consultant offerings spanned over 50 years on behalf of both the Conn and Selmer-Bach instrument companies.
He was active in the community as a member of the Masonic Lodge, Abou ben Adhem Shrine temple, Ducks Unlimited and served as President of the Branson Lion’s Club. He proudly served on the Branson Adoration Parade Committee for nearly all his years in Branson. He loved his church, serving in many capacities including Jr. Warden and Sub-Deacon.
He saw the best college football game ever played in 1964; Michigan State coached by Duffy Daugherty vs. Notre Dame coached by Knute Rockne. This epic battle ended in a tie & cemented its place in history. He was a Golden Gloves boxer, drove in stock car races, played semi-pro football in MI & scrimmaged against the Michigan State basketball team when they didn’t have enough players to simulate game conditions. Had his own radio show on the local NPR station that brought depth of understanding about jazz to its listeners with his unmistakeable voice.
He cared courageously for his students & worked tirelessly to provide them the best opportunities to succeed. He never stopped coaching them or me with his vast knowledge, charisma, strong character & boundless energy.
He taught me how to…drive, wear musicians “work clothes” (a tuxedo), play the gentlemen’s game of golf, chop wood, tie a tie five different ways, use a lawnmower, do laundry, play a couple instruments & make them “swing”, connect with people, be yourself & a million other things. He held my hand when I got stitches from a head injury & picked me up late at night when I started my first job at 13 years old. His example showed me the value of hard work & perseverance.
He was a renaissance man & a leader, period. He meant so much to so many. He was right, wing tips & paisleys never go out of style…just like him! So proud of you Dad, thanks for everything!
Miss you terribly & love you more,
Karl
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