One of the most prominent and prolific bandleaders in jazz history, Stan Kenton has left behind an extensive legacy of musical excellence. Born in Kansas in 1911, Kenton began studying piano as a youth, but did not develop any particular affinity for the instrument until being exposed to jazz as a teenager. Kenton formed his first orchestra in 1941 after having toured with several California-based bands during his late teens. Success eluded the band for its first couple years until a contract with Capitol Records and a hit record in “Eager Beaver” put Kenton and his charges on the map in 1943. Never satisfied with the idea of being just another dance band, Kenton hired several young arrangers starting in the mid-1940s to craft a new sound that he would dub “progressive jazz.” These arrangers, most notably Pete Rugolo, Bill Russo and Bob Graettinger, would be responsible for crafting the now-iconic Kenton sound: bombastic, dissonant, and aggressive, with screaming brass sections and heavy rhythmic concepts that some critics viewed as non-swinging. Kenton's never-ending searches for new sounds led him to experiment with the size and scope of his organizations. His “Innovations in Modern Music” orchestra featured a 16 piece string section, while his 1960s groups often featured the mellophonium, a sort of hybrid trumpet and French horn that Kenton himself had been involved in developing. Nevertheless, the definitive traits of the Kenton sound remained all the way up until his passing in 1979. In addition to his lengthy resume as a bandleader, Kenton was one of the first major figures in the world of jazz education. Beginning in 1959, his “Stan Kenton Band Clinics” played a major role in the development and education of several notable young jazz musicians. Even more notably, Kenton would eventually donate his entire music library to the University of North Texas, whose jazz recital hall is named for and dedicated to him. In addition, several Kenton alumni continue to tour and perform with the Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra under the leadership of trumpeter Mike Vax.