# Gene Hall

Morris Eugene hall (aka M.E. "Gene" Hall; 12 June 1913 Whitewright, Texas – 4 March 1993 Denton, Texas) was an American music educator, saxophonist, and arranger, known for creating and presiding over the first academic curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in jazz (then called "Dance Band") at an institution of higher learning, being at the University of North Texas College of Music (then, the School of Music at North Texas State Teachers College) in 1947. == Early years == Hall was born June 12, 1913, in Whitewright, Texas, to Benjamin Baxter Hall and Leila G. Hall, née Cook. As a boy, he studied the saxophone and played in church, later played saxophone in a local combo called the Joy Makers.