The University of North Alabama has renamed its Department of Entertainment Industry for David and John Briggs, after David Briggs’ sons, Darren and Gabriel, presented a gift to the university.
“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 Ryan Zayac, dean of UNA’s 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.”
A native of Florence, David Briggs was 14 when he first recorded at James Joiner’s studio. During the next five decades, he played on more than 10,000 recording sessions and contributed to numerous No. 1 records.
As a member of Rick Hall’s Fame Studio’s first rhythm section, known as the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, he recorded a number of hits, leading to his relocation to Nashville in 1964 at the age of 23. After his move, he established the Quadraphonic Studio in 1970 and Danor Publishing Co., both of which recorded a number of rock, pop and country hits with artists such as Neil Young, Jimmy Buffett, The Jacksons and Bob Segar.
In 1980, he opened the House of David Studio and later Will N David Music with songwriter Will Jennings. Clients he worked with at both of these included B.B. King, Roy Orbison, Joe Cocker, Maroon Five, Chris Stapleton and others.
In 1999, David Briggs was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and in 2019 in the Musician’s Hall of Fame as a member of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section.
John Briggs, a graduate of UNA, was the vice president of membership for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. He recruited to ASCAP the Backstreet Boys, Kenny Chesney, ZZ Top, Brad Paisley, Shenandoah, Alan Jackson and others. Prior to his time with ASCAP, he worked as the studio manager for the House of David Studio and at Creative Department of Screen Gems, Colgems and EMI Music. After ASCAP, he was an executive producer of Jerry Lewis’ theatrical version of “The Nutty Professor” and later moved into the financial industry, serving as an entertainment industry specialist with US Bank and as vice president of the entertainment and pro sports division of Tower Community Bank.
