Dan Haerle

John Marshall "Dan" Haerle, Jr. moved on to his next gig on Saturday, March 2nd, 2024. Dan passed peacefully in his sleep at home, surrounded by Jill and their beloved kitty cats. He was 86 years old.

Born in Quincy, Illinois, on July 23, 1937 to parents John Marshall and Rozella Ida Haerle, Dan grew up in a musical family, as his father was a trombonist and arranger and his mother a music lover. His early exposure to music laid the foundation for his lifelong passion, as he began learning the piano and performing at a young age. After graduating from high school in 1955, Dan attended Coe College, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education, and then North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas), earning a Master's Degree in Music Composition. What followed was a career that spanned over six decades and included significant contributions as both a musician and educator.

As a composer and performer, Dan was fortunate enough to perform all over the world during his career. Dan did extensive recording and show work in Dallas, Miami Beach, and New York, and his compositions and arrangements became standards in the jazz repertoire. He worked with jazz legends Clark Terry, Pat Metheny, Stan Kenton, Mel Torme, Jamey Aebersold, Al Jarreau, Dave Liebman, Woody Shaw, Kai Winding, Chris Connor, and Freddie Hubbard.

As an educator, Dan began his career teaching elementary, middle, and high school band in What Cheer, Iowa. He then taught at Kansas State University Manhattan, Monterey Peninsula College, University of Miami Coral Gables, and Arizona State University before landing at the University of North Texas (then called North Texas State University) in 1977. Alongside his UNT colleagues such as Leon Breeden, Ed Soph, Jack Petersen, Neil Slater, Mike Steinel, Jim Riggs, and Fred Hamilton, Dan was instrumental in developing the UNT Jazz Studies program. He taught Jazz Piano, Jazz Fundamentals, Advanced Jazz Improvisation, Jazz MIDI, Graduate Jazz Improvisation, Rhythm Section Master Class, supervised the jazz chamber music program, directed the Jazz Strings, created a keyboard ensemble called The Zebras, and taught courses in basic MIDI theory, sequencing, and jazz notation. Dan was a faculty member in the Jazz Studies Division of the College of Music at the University of North Texas for 25 years, was appointed Regents Professor in 1992, and Professor Emeritus in 2007 after his retirement.

Dan was on the forefront of jazz education. He authored essential texts on jazz education such as The Jazz Language, and enjoyed a long and productive association with Jamey Aebersold's Summer Combo Workshops. Dan wrote and recorded countless Aebersold playalongs, and was an active jazz clinician nationally and internationally. Along with Jamey Aebersold, Jerry Coker and David Baker, Dan created new approaches to jazz improvisation that are today the mainstays of jazz education throughout the world. He also taught at many other jazz camps over the years, including the Janice Borla Vocal Jazz Camp and the Stan Kenton Jazz Camp. Dan's impact on the jazz community is profound and far-reaching, with former students and colleagues consistently praising his mentorship, musicianship, kindness, and unwavering support. Dan was inducted into the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) Hall of Fame and the Jazz Education Network (JEN) LeJENd of Jazz Education.

But more importantly, Dan will be remembered for his incredible mind, kind heart, warm hugs, love of great puns and bad jokes, and the overall desire to make the world a better place. He loved great food, a good gin and tonic, and especially ice cream. Dan loved his wife Jill and their many kitty cats over the years. He was immensely proud of his daughter Darin and all of her accomplishments, particularly her two wonderful children. As a friend pointed out, Dan "had a 'Hey, man' that was so warm and honest. He embodied what it was to be a good man. Good to his family, good to his art, good to his students, and good to his friends."

Dan is survived by his wife of 36 years Jill Haerle, daughter Darin and son-in-law Ryan Heimlich of Chico, California, and grandchildren Lincoln Daniel and Harper Elizabeth. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the John M. Haerle Memorial Scholarship Fund at the University of North Texas School of Music. A Celebration of Life honoring Dan will be held this summer, with details released by the family at a later date.