Jazz Articles

Neil Slater: Legacy: Neil Slater at North Texas

by Karl Ackermann
November 30, 2017

In 1942, a University of North Texas graduate music student, M. E. Hall, was asked to teach dance band arranging to two students, an activity that led to his thesis on a closely related topic. That thesis developed into the foundation of the school's jazz curriculum. Years later, Hall helped launch the jazz program which included establishing the Two O'Clock Lab Band, the first performing dance band ensemble to receive academic credits. In 1981, Neil Slater, became the Chair of ...