JB Floyd ( James Robert Floyd; born June 2, 1929) is an American concert pianist (jazz, classical,

experimental An experiment is a procedure carried out to support or refute a hypothesis, or determine the efficacy or likelihood of something previously untried. Experiments provide insight into cause-and-effect by demonstrating what outcome occurs when ...

, ''avant-garde'', and the like), composer, and music pedagogue at the collegiate level. Before retiring in 2013, Floyd spent 64 years as a music educator in higher education, including as chairman of keyboard performance at

Northern Illinois University Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a public research university in DeKalb, Illinois. It was founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895, by Illinois Governor John P. Altgeld as part of an expansion of the state's system ...

from 1962 to 1981 and chairman of keyboard performance at the

University of Miami The University of Miami (UM, UMiami, Miami, U of M, and The U) is a private research university in Coral Gables, Florida. , the university enrolled 19,096 students in 12 colleges and schools across nearly 350 academic majors and programs, incl ...

Frost School of Music Frost School of Music is the music school at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. From 1926 to 2003, it was known as University of Miami School of Music. Academics and programs The University of Miami's Frost School of Music was on ...

from 1982 to 2013. Floyd is a

Yamaha Artist A Yamaha Artist is a designation bestowed by Yamaha, by invitation, to musical artists, considered to be critically acclaimed in their instruments or genres. Acceptance as a Yamaha Artist is tantamount to a reciprocal endorsement by Yamaha. Like ot ...

Education

Floyd earned a

Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Music (BM or BMus) is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of a program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree, and the majority of work consists of prescr ...

in 1948 and a Master of Music in 1950 from the

University of North Texas The University of North Texas (UNT) is a public research university in Denton, Texas. It was founded as a nonsectarian, coeducational, private teachers college in 1890 and was formally adopted by the state 11 years later."Denton Normal School," ...

(

College of Music A music school is an educational institution specialized in the study, training, and research of music. Such an institution can also be known as a school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department (of a larger in ...

). While at North Texas, he studied piano with Isabel and

Silvio Scionti Silvio Vittore Alberto Scionti (; born 20 November 1882; d 22 May 1973) was an Italy, Italian-born United States, American pianist and teacher. Born in Acireale, Sicily, he trained at the Music conservatories of Naples, Royal Conservatory in Naples ...

. In the 1950s, at the

University of Corpus Christi A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

, Floyd became head of the Department of Music, then Chairman of the Fine Arts Division. In Fall 1949, Floyd joined the music faculty of the

University of Kentucky The University of Kentucky (UK, UKY, or U of K) is a Public University, public Land-grant University, land-grant research university in Lexington, Kentucky. Founded in 1865 by John Bryan Bowman as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentu ...

as piano instructor. He also served on the music faculty of

Sam Houston State University Sam Houston State University (SHSU or Sam) is a public university in Huntsville, Texas. It was founded in 1879 and is the third-oldest public college or university in Texas. It is one of the first normal schools west of the Mississippi River and ...

Career

Floyd, in 1949, was a grand winner of the National Guild of Piano Teachers Young Artist Competition at

Town Hall In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or a municipal building (in the Philippines), is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses ...

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

. The award led to a sponsored solo recital at Town Hall, Wednesday, 8:30 , April 9, 1952.

Harold C. Schonberg Harold Charles Schonberg (29 November 1915 – 26 July 2003) was an American music critic and author. He is best known for his contributions in ''The New York Times'', where he was List of chief music critics, chief music critic from 1960 to 198 ...

(1915–2003), a music critic for ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'', reviewed the performance. Floyd went on to earn a DMA in 1961 from

Indiana University Indiana University (IU) is a system of public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana. Campuses Indiana University has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration of IUPUI. *Indiana Universit ...

Jacobs School of Music The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana, is a music conservatory established in 1921. Until 2005, it was known as the Indiana University School of Music. It has more than 1,500 students, approximately half of whom ar ...

. In 1962, Floyd joined the music faculty at the

University of Northern Illinois Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a Public university, public research university in DeKalb, Illinois. It was founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895, by Illinois Governor John P. Altgeld as part of an expansion of ...

. In 1981, Floyd joined the faculty at the

. He taught there for 32 years, retiring as Chair ''

Emeritus ''Emeritus'' (; female: ''emerita'') is an adjective used to designate a retired chair, professor, pastor, bishop, pope, director, president, prime minister, rabbi, emperor, or other person who has been "permitted to retain as an honorary title ...

'' in 2013 while serving as Chair of the University of Miami's Department of Keyboard Performance.

Selected discography

* * * * * * * *

Selected publications

* "Beethoven's Piano Sonata, Op. 111 In Its Historical Perspective" ( Master of Music thesis), by James Robert Floyd,

(1950); * "The keyboard music of Pergolesi" (

Giovanni Battista Pergolesi Giovanni Battista Draghi (; 4 January 1710 – 16 or 17 March 1736), often referred to as Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (), was an Italian Baroque composer, violinist, and organist. His best-known works include his Stabat Mater and the opera ''L ...

) ( DMA dissertation), by James Robert Floyd,

Indiana University Bloomington Indiana University Bloomington (IU Bloomington, Indiana University, IU, or simply Indiana) is a public university, public research university in Bloomington, Indiana. It is the flagship university, flagship campus of Indiana University and, with ...

(1961);

Bibliography

Notes

References

* * * (article provides early biographical information). . . . * * "Floyd studied with Isabel and Silvio Scionti ..." * J.B. Floyd (piano); Fred Atwood ( Fred Connell Atwood; born 1937) (bass); Dave Merrifield ( David Kay Merrifield; born 1937) (drums); Tony Calzaretta ( Anthony John Calzaretta; born 1940), vocalist (Claremont was a label of Vernon Charles Castle; 1928–2008). * . . * Originally retrieved October 3, 2017 * * * (print). (web). . . * Reference ID: 51919; GS film no. 2240970; digital folder no. 4688276; image no. 285 (of 3534); indexing project (batch) no. C06136-3.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Floyd, JB 1929 births 20th-century American male musicians 20th-century American pianists 20th-century classical pianists 21st-century American male musicians 21st-century American pianists 21st-century classical pianists American classical pianists American male classical pianists Classical musicians from Florida Classical musicians from Texas Jacobs School of Music alumni Living people Musicians from Miami Northern Illinois University faculty People from Tyler, Texas University of Miami faculty University of North Texas College of Music alumni