Merle J. Biggin
[Home]
Merle’s
musical education began under the direction of his father, a southwest Wisconsin
farmer who was also a trumpet player. This education began with piano lessons
during grade school and since his father had various musical instruments in the
house, Merle began playing an antique helicon bass horn prior to entering high
school. He played a sousaphone throughout high school and participated in many
musical competitions, culminating in his being selected for the Wisconsin
All-State High School Band in 1960.
Merle continued his education
and musical career at the University of Wisconsin where he played tuba for four
years in the marching and concert bands and was fortunate to be able to
participate with the UW Marching Band in the 1963 Rose Bowl in Pasadena,
California. In 1964 Merle came to Washington, D.C. for employment with the U.S.
Government. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Washington Redskins Band where he
played a sousaphone for several years. In 1969 he joined the tuba section of the
Rockville (MD) Concert
Band and continues to perform with that organization today playing a
4-valve, large bore, BBb Martin tuba, which was originally used in the U.S.
Marine Corps Band.
During his high school years,
Merle was introduced to traditional Dixieland jazz via late night AM radio
broadcasts from the Blue Room of the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans. Merle
fulfilled a life-long ambition to play traditional jazz by joining the Capital
City Jazz Band in 1977, the Phoenix Jazz Band for the duration of its limited
lifetime and currently the Village Jazz Band and the Rockville Dixie Rascals.
Merle also performs with other jazz and concert bands as the need for a tuba
arises.
