Robert O. Briggs

Robert Orlando Briggs was the longtime director of the University of California Marching Band. He was the fourth full time director since the founding of the band in the 1880's.

Briggs was born in Modesto, California on Aug. 20, 1927, the great-grandson of pioneer James Briggs, who cofounded the town. He graduated from Modesto High School and briefly attended Modesto Junior College before entering Cal in 1947. [ [http://www.insidebayarea.com/localnews/ci_10518635 Robert Briggs, long-time Cal band director, dead at 81, By Dan Verel, Oakland Tribune] ] [ [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/19/BAKF130O4N.DTL Robert Briggs, UC marching band stalwart, dies Carl Nolte, Chronicle Staff Writer] ] Briggs joined the Cal Band, played the cornet and took up the French horn. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in music in 1951, he joined the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War, joining U.S. Army bands at Ford Ord, Monterey and Okinawa, Japan. Later, he earned a master's degree in music from San Francisco State University. [ [http://www.modbee.com/breakingnews/story/438195.html Modesto native, Cal band director Briggs dies] ]

After his military service, he landed the post of band director of Armijo High School in Fairfield, Calif. which he held until 1967 when he returned to UC Berkeley to assist Cal Band director James Berdahl. When Berdahl took a leave of absence in 1971, Briggs filled in as acting director before being officially appointed Cal Band director in 1973. [ [http://www.dailycal.org/article/102692/former_cal_band_director_upheld_california_spirit_ Former Cal Band Director Upheld "California Spirit" ROBERT BRIGGS By Emily Grospe] ] [ [http://www.modbee.com/2275/story/438220.html story reprinted from 1993] ]

Bob continued as director until his retirement 1995. [ [http://berkeley.edu/news/berkeleyan/1995/0503/briggs.html Ending on a High Note, For Bob Briggs of the Cal Band, It's Been a Long and Melodious Symphony, by Julia Sommer] ] Retirement was spent starting a local community concert band in Fairfield the "Solano Winds". [ [http://www.solanowinds.org/history.php The History of the Solano Winds] ] [ [http://www.thereporter.com/ci_10507669?source=most_viewed Much respected music director dies at age 81, By Richard Bammer] ] He passed away on September 17, 2008.

Notes and references

External Links

* [http://www.calband.berkeley.edu/calband/cbaa/ Robert Orlando Briggs 20 August 1927 - 17 September 2008] Cal Band Alumni Association

* [http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2008/09/19_briggs.shtml Beloved Cal Band director emeritus Robert Briggs dies at 81 By Yasmin Anwar, Media Relations] , University of California Press Release.