Stamm with UNT president Dr. Norval F. Pohl

This award is especially significant in that it is a university-wide award, and Stamm represents the first "horn player" of any genre to be so honored. Given that UNT now boasts almost 175,000 living alumni and only approx. 135 have been accorded this honor since its inception in 1965, this is a landmark achievement indeed.

Among Mr. Stamm’s guests on the evening of April 16 were wife Nancy, daughters Robyn, Marisa and Teal, and son-in-law Ian Gifford. Also, fellow North Texas ex-student trumpet colleagues Don Owen, Dale Olson, Mike Steinel, Pat Deemer Kimbell, Rex Perrin, Melvin Gordy and Bob Morgan. A special guest was Stamm’s long-time mentor, UNT professor emeritus of trumpet, John Haynie, recipient of the ITG Award of Merit in 2003.

The other honorees included Jerry Durant, prominent North Texas-area automobile dealer, real estate developer and rancher, and Robert Onstead, founder of Randall’s Food Markets, Houston. Each received a handsome neck medallion and attractive framed certificate.

Past recipients of this award include founder of the UNT jazz program, Dr. M. E. “Gene” Hall (1987), singer/composer/pianist Bob Dorough (2002), writer Larry McMurtry (1986), political commentator Bill Moyers (1977), architect O’Neil Ford (1977) and golfer Don January (1976).

Mr. Stamm concluded his acceptance remarks by observing:

Expectations and responsibilities - two very important words in my life - are words you don’t hear much today - in society, in families, or in school. But for me, they were a source from which so much emanated. If these words were again invoked into the family lives and the schools in our great country - in fact all of society today - what could we not accomplish? And maybe solutions to so much that we find of great concern to all of us might appear.

So - to my parents, my family, my friends and my teachers, I thank you all; and I love you for holding me to those two words.

Marvin Stamm

MARVIN STAMM - Vita breve

A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Marvin Stamm began his career as trumpet soloist with the Stan Kenton Orchestra (1961-62) and with the Woody Herman Orchestra (1965-66). Between these two engagements, he spent two years gaining valuable experience in the show orchestras in Reno, Nevada. Upon moving to New York City in late 1966, he gained considerable recognition for his playing with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra (1966-72) and the Duke Pearson Big Band (1967-70). He also toured with Frank Sinatra (1973-74) and the Benny Goodman Sextet (1974-75).

During the period 1966-89, Marvin established a career as one of the most successful trumpet players in the NYC recording studios, performing with some of the most notable jazz musicians in the history of the art form, as well as with many of the most famous “pop” performers of the day.

In the late 1980s, Mr. Stamm returned to his first love, jazz, and currently maintains a very busy concert and recording schedule, with five CDs as leader currently available. His varied activities include performing as a soloist, in duo with pianist Bill Mays, with his jazz quintet, and with symphony orchestras throughout the U. S. He is also a very active and concerned music educator, maintaining a busy workshop schedule at high schools and universities across the country. He has served as a member of the Trumpet Resource Team for the International Association for Jazz Education for over ten years.

Websites:
Marvin Stamm
UNT home page
UNT Alumni Awards 2004