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| G. Oliver Riggs (1870 - 1946) |
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"I tell my boys that the only way to win success is by hard work and through preparation." - G. Oliver Riggs (Daily Times and Daily Journal Press of St. Cloud, Minnesota. March 20th, 1935) Decades before Meredith Willson’s show “The Music Man” captivated Broadway audiences, Minnesota’s own music man placed trombones, saxophones and other instruments in the hands of boys barely old enough to carry them.G. Oliver Riggs (1870-1946) organized and directed more than dozen bands during his 60-year career, which included 21 years in St. Cloud. Known for their precision, discipline and sheer size, his boys’ bands received regional and national acclaim. Riggs came to St. Cloud from Bemidji in April 1923, accepting an invitation from a group of St. Cloud businessmen to direct the municipal band and start a boys’ band. Two years later, the 150-member St. Cloud municipal boys’ band wowed thousands of spectators with its appearance at the 1925 International Kiwanis Convention in St. Paul. Other highlights of the St. Cloud years included band performances at two National Junior Chamber of Commerce conventions, the 1931 convention in Des Moines and the 1933 convention in St. Paul; and the band’s first-place performance in a parade at the 1934 state American Legion Convention in Duluth. An accomplished violinist and cornet soloist, Riggs began his music career during the Golden Age of bands, when uniformed musicians provided communities with a regular source of entertainment and culture. Riggs had high expectations of his charges, and he worked tirelessly to promote the band and cultivate civic support. Some of his students went on to achieve national fame, including legendary trombonist Pullman “Tommy” Pederson. Music was a family affair for Riggs. His wife, Islea, was a talented concert pianist who often accompanied the band during its concerts. She also taught piano and was active in St. Cloud music circles. The couple’s sons, Ronald and Percy, both assisted their father in directing the St. Cloud band and pursued their own careers as bandmasters for many years. After the death of G. Oliver Riggs in January 1946, an article in the Schmitt Music News called him the “dean of Minnesota Bandmasters” and said that his boys’ bands provided a model for the development of Minnesota’s school band program. “His part in building the foundations of school instrumental music will always be a fitting memorial to a gentleman, musician, and educator,” the March 1946 article stated.  Nov. 26, 1870 G. Oliver born in Wapello, Iowa 1872 Family moves to Hamilton County, Nebraska 1874-77 Family lives in Dorchester, NE, where Jasper runs a general store 1877 Family moves to Rush County, Kansas 1880 Family living in Union Township, Rush County, KS 1881 Public schools report ending 10/28/1881; D. Riggs, O. Riggs not tardy; Oct. 31, 1881 – O. Riggs transferred from primary to senior department; O. Riggs 100 percent deportment; O. Riggs scholarship from 70-100 percent from class book; 11/3/1881 Dorchester Star, 11/3/1881 1883 Robert McManus dies; funeral May 24 1886 Jasper sells hardware stock to another firm on April 29th. 1886 Jasper has sold his property in Dorchester on May 6th, on lookout for town that needs a hardware store. Jasper and family living in Odell, in Gage County, NE 1886-87 Jasper and Rebecca living in Randall, Jewell Co., KS 1886-88 G Oliver attends Oberlin, Ohio music conservatory 1888 Jasper and Rebecca living in Esbon, Jewell Co., Kansas 1887-89 G Oliver organizes first boys’ band in Esbon, Kansas; taught first band, violin, piano and reed organ (age 16) 1889 GO member of National Salsbury Orchestra, Boyd’s Opera House, Omaha, NE 1890 Family living in Omaha 1889-91 G Oliver in Illinois, then Albia, Iowa, as teacher and director of band; cornet soloist for third regimental band (Iowa national guard) of Centerville, under Maj. Geo. W. Landers 1890 Jasper, Rebecca and Daisy move to Joy, IL 1891 Third concert of winter series, Centerville Military Band, first brigade I.N.G. and Prof. Landers’ Parlor Orchestra – violin and cornet soloist on January 13th. First Concert, winter series, Albia Concert Band and Prof. Riggs Parlor Orchestra; G.W. Landers, clarinet soloist on March 10th. Eighth concert, last of winter series 1890-91, Centerville Military Band and Prof. Landers’ Parlor Orchestra; Riggs of Albia- violin and cornet soloist on April 7th. Albia Concert Band and Prof. Riggs’ Parlor Orchestra – second concert; musical director on April 14th. G. Oliver plays first violin in the Oberlin Musical Union holiday concert presentation of Handel’s Messiah on December 17th & 18th. G. Oliver completes the violin and cornet course from Oberlin Conservatory of Music 1892-96 G. Oliver teaches violin and band instruments at the IWU Conservatory of Music in Mt. Pleasant; takes academic classes two years at Iowa Wesleyan; directs the IWU Cadet Band 1893 G. Oliver studies in Chicago with Luigi von Kunitz 1895 Prof. G. Oliver Riggs plays at the Annual Contest of the Iowa Collegiate Oratorical Association, held at College Chapel, Mount Pleasant, Iowa on February 28th. 1895-96 directs Aledo band, winning hotly contested band contest in 1896 1896-98 G. Oliver in hardware business with father in Joy, Ill. 1898 Concert to be held at the college Concert Hall; G. Oliver (“our new bandmaster”) to play cornet and violin solos on October 13th 1898Marries Islea Graham on December 22. Islea had a musical background and taught piano and performed with the St. Cloud Municipal Band for many years. Directs the Crookston Band in Minnesota, the Riggs Theatre & Dance Orchestra, Crookston Grand Opera House, and the Putnam Band in Fargo, North Dakota. 1908 Studies cornet with bandmaster and composer A. F.Weldon in Chicago. 1909 Directs the Grand Forks Military Band in North Dakota. 1910 Directs the Tacoma-Riggs Coast Artillery Band in Washington State. 1911 Moves to Havre, Montana and directs the Havre Boys Band, Burnham Creek Band in Crookston, and the Iowa Wesleyan Men's Glee Club Tour. 1914 Returns to direct the Crookston Band which performs for the North Dakota State Fair in 1916. 1919 Directs the Bemidji, Minnesota Boys Band which grows to 140 members. 1923 G. Oliver Riggs is invited to St. Cloud to direct the adult municipal band and form a boys' band. 1925 The 150-member St. Cloud Boys' Band performs at the International Kiwanis Convention in St. Paul. 1925-28 G. Oliver works part-time for Conn Band Instrument Co. 1926 The city of St Cloud is unable to support the band, so the American Legion sponsors the band the next ten years. 1927 Starting with 100 members, the boys' band has grown to 233 and is billed as the largest band in the world. 1927 The City of St. Cloud passes a levy to support the band. 1928 G. Oliver reorganizes the St. Cloud Band. 1929 G. Oliver serves as president of the Minnesota Bandmasters Association. 1929 The 96-member St. Cloud Boys’ Band participates in the first state band festival, held in St. Paul and organized by the Minnesota Bandmasters Association. 1930 The St. Cloud Kiwanis replaces money in the band bank account when the banks close. 1931 The St. Cloud Boys Band splits into three parts: beginner, junior and senior bands. The 70-member Senior Boys’ Band attends the National Junior Chamber of Commerce Convention in Des Moines. 1933 The St. Cloud Boys’ Band attends the National Junior Chamber of Commerce Convention in St. Paul. 1934 The St. Cloud Boys’ Band plays for a national Junior Chamber of Commerce radio program recorded at KSTP’s studio in St. Paul and broadcast over the NBC blue network. The 90-member Senior Boys’ Band competes in the state American Legion Convention’s parade competition in Duluth. 1936 G Oliver Riggs forms an adult band from his Boys’ Band "graduates." 1940 The Eagles take over sponsorship of the band. 1944 G. Oliver retires as director. 1946 Dies of a heart attack at the Red Lake Indian Reservation School on January 25th. "I don't remember when I couldn't play some instrument. I played anything I could get my hands on" - G. Oliver Riggs (Daily Times and Daily Journal Press of St. Cloud, Minnesota. March 20th, 1935) |
