Dec
27
Play the Birthday Trumpet Fanfare!
Today is a special day; it’s the birthday of an exceptional musician, teacher and human being – my dad, William Johnson Riggs.
My dad was born in Thief River Falls, where his dad Ronald was working as a band director and teacher. The family soon moved to St. Cloud, and that’s where Dad grew up.
It’s not surprising that music has always been an important part of Dad’s life; his dad was a band director for several years before he became a college professor; his mom, Eleanor, and his paternal grandmother, Islea, both played and taught piano; and his paternal grandfather, G. Oliver Riggs, was a well known bandmaster who died when Dad was 7.
My dad was a little boy when G.
My dad was born in Thief River Falls, where his dad Ronald was working as a band director and teacher. The family soon moved to St. Cloud, and that’s where Dad grew up.
It’s not surprising that music has always been an important part of Dad’s life; his dad was a band director for several years before he became a college professor; his mom, Eleanor, and his paternal grandmother, Islea, both played and taught piano; and his paternal grandfather, G. Oliver Riggs, was a well known bandmaster who died when Dad was 7.
My dad was a little boy when G.
