FLORENCE – The Department of Entertainment Industry at the University of North Alabama has been renamed to the David and John Briggs Family Department of Entertainment Industry.
The naming was made possible by a gift from Darren and Gabriel Briggs, the sons of session musician legend David Briggs, and David’s brother, John Briggs.
A native of Florence, David Briggs was only 14 when he played piano on his first recording session at James Joiner’s studio in downtown Florence. During the next five decades, he played on more than 10,000 recording sessions and contributed his unique and diverse sound to numerous No. 1 records and thousands of charted records in multiple genres.
Harold Bradley, past President of the Nashville Chapter of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM), who oversaw David’s retirement package at the time of his retirement said, “Based on our research, David Briggs is the most recorded musician in the history of the AFM.”
As members of Rick Hall’s FAME Studio’s first rhythm section, known as the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, they recorded songs from the seminal hit of “You Better Move On” in 1961 to a number of other hits until their departure to Nashville in December 1964.
This whirlwind of success led to the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section being the band backing The Righteous Brothers and Tommy Roe at a significant date in Rock ’n’ Roll history – opening for the Beatles first show in the U.S. in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 11, 1964. David was an integral part of the vanguard that defined the Muscle Shoals sound.
After his move to Nashville, David continued to expand his creative talents and business skills into a number of successful ventures, establishing Quadraphonic Studio in 1970 and Danor Publishing Company with fellow Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section member Norbert Putnam.
Quadraphonic Studio became the premier top rock/pop recording studio in Nashville, and Danor Publishing Company generated a number of pop, rock and country hits. Artists recording at Quad included Neil Young, Jimmy Buffett, Joan Baez, The Jacksons, and Bob Seger. They sold the companies in 1980.
David opened House of David Studio in 1980 and, a few years later, opened Will N David Music, with legendary hit songwriter Will Jennings. The resulting success of both entities led to more legendary pop, rock, and country music success.
A few clients who recorded at House of David included Joe Cocker, Neil Young, Roy Orbison, BB King, Maroon Five, Dan Fogelberg, Chris Stapleton, Steve Earle, The Crusaders, among others.
Will N David Music became a significant music publisher in a short period of time, winning BMI’s Top Pop Music Publisher of the Year in 1988. A small sampling of hits from the catalogue includes Whitney Houston’s “Didn’t We Almost Have It All;” Steve Winwood’s hit singles, “Higher Love,” “Roll with It,” “Back in the High Life,” and “Finer Things;” Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven;” Ronnie Milsap’s “Woman in Love;” and Shenandoah’s “Next to You Next to Me.”
Beyond being the most recorded piano player with Elvis Presley, David recorded around the world with George Harrison, Leon Russell, Dolly Parton, Neil Young, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Linda Ronstadt, Johnny Cash, Dan Fogelberg, Joan Baez, Al Green, Dean Martin, Willie Nelson, Brenda Lee, the Pointer Sisters, JJ Cale, Bob Seger, and others. He worked with more than 90 artists in the County Music and Rock ’N’ Roll halls of fame.
From a historical perspective, David was a musical genius and businessman. He wore many hats including, musician, session leader, artist, arranger, producer, hit songwriter, studio owner, publisher, jingle writer, owner of a number of Music Row properties, producer of shows at the White House and on major television networks. The fascinating aspect to his talents was his ability to work with major artists in multiple genres including pop music, R&B, country, jazz, classical, standards, and western.
In 1999, David was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame; in 2019, he was inducted into the Musician’s Hall of Fame as a member of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section.
John was the vice president of membership for the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP). In this role, John demonstrated a wide range of creative, business, and leadership skills that led to his success as one of the industry’s most valuable players.
Just a few of the acts John recruited to ASCAP from 1985 until 2010 included the Backstreet Boys, the Chicks, Kenny Chesney, ZZ Top, Brad Paisley, Dobie Gray, Deana Carter, Shenandoah, Alan Jackson, The Cranberries, Clint Black, Jessica Simpson, Little Texas, Brian McKnight, Kenny Chesney, Gloria Gaynor, and Garth Brooks.
Before working at ASCAP, John received his commercial music degree from UNA in 1983. After graduation, he was the studio manager of House of David Studio and Creative Department at Screen Gems, Colgems, and EMI Music.
After his time at ASCAP, John worked with Estevez/Sheen Productions in Los Angeles and was the executive producer of Jerry Lewis’s theatrical version of “The Nutty Professor.” John later moved into the financial arena, serving as the Entertainment Industry Specialist at US Bank followed by serving as vice president of the Entertainment and Pro Sports Division of Tower Community Bank.
A dedicated arts supporter, John has been a member of music industry and civic-oriented organizations. He has served on the boards of the Academy of Country Music, Better Business Bureau of Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky, Nashville Entertainment Association, Nashville Chamber of Commerce’s Partnership 2000, Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee, Alabama Music Hall of Fame, UNA’s President’s Cabinet and College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering Advisory Council, Founding Board member of the ACM’s Lifting Lives Foundation, and the BBB’s Integrity Foundation.
John is a graduate of Leadership Music and ASCAP’s Leadership Program MOVE. He received the Governor’s Award for his contribution to American music and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame Music Industry Achievement Award.
“As evidenced by recently being named to the Billboard list of Top Music Business Schools, our Entertainment Industry program is a leader in the field,” said Dr. Ryan Zayac, dean of the College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering. “The gift of the naming provides further validation that our graduates are making names for themselves in the broader industry.
“We are deeply grateful to Gabriel and Darren Briggs and John Briggs for the naming of this program for his brother, David, and the Briggs Family.”
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