Bruce A. Baggett, 82, of Clearwater, Fla., and formerly of Clearfield, died Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017 at Freedom Square Rehab and Nursing Services in Seminole, Fla.
He was the son of the late Joseph Jennings and Mary Virginia Armstrong Baggett.
In 1963, he married “Ginny” Virginia (Davis) Baggett. She preceded him in death March 10, 2015.
He graduated in 1956 from Occidental College, Pasadena, Calif., with a Bachelor’s degree in voice with minors in woodwinds and conducting.
Later in New York City, he attended Columbia University, earning a Master’s degree and ED.D., in music and music education.
His doctoral dissertation was titled “A Guide to the Understanding and Performance of Selected Schubert Song Cycles.”
He had many opportunities during his lengthy career to purse both classical music and that of the popular music genre.
After his undergraduate studies in California, he went to New York City and studied voice under the tutelage of Sergius Kagan at Juilliard.
He sang with the Robert Shaw Chorale and was bass baritone soloist at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church and Hitchcock Presbyterian Church in Scarsdale, NY.
He performed in summer stock with a leading role in “Brigadoon” and in “Wish You Were Here.” He sang at the New York City Center with Howard Keel in “Carousel.”
He joined the Ray Charles Singers on the Perry Como Show and sang in a trio with Harry Belafonte on his World Tour.
He performed in many television shows, such as the Ed Sullivan Show, The Garry Moore Show with Carol Burnett, Omnibus, Bell Telephone Hour and the Hallmark Hall of Fame. He worked as a special products music producer for CBS Columbia Records and sang in a quartet during Radio City Music Hall holiday specials.
He was a member of the Chuck Cassey Singers on the Jimmy Dean Show. When the show ended, he went on the road to perform in such places as Harrah’s Club in Lake Tahoe and The Sands in Las Vegas.
After several years with Jimmy Dean, he joined The Four Lads. The group performed all over the country and in Singapore and Japan; they were well-known for their hit songs, “Standing on the Corner” and “Moments to Remember.”
Later he sang with the Pied Pipers, a group made by Frank Sinatra and Jo Stafford, and he sang the Sinatra solos. Both the Four Lads and Pied Pipers were featured selections of the Clearfield Community Concert Association series while he was a member of these groups.
He also sang as a soloist with the Glenn Miller Orchestra and Al Martino.
He was a secondary music teacher in Westport, Conn., and assistant professor of music at City University of New York (CUNY).
After moving to Clearfield with his wife and two children, he taught in the Clearfield Schools as well as Penn State DuBois as a music lecturer.
He was also director of the Clearfield County Head Start Program and director of the Clearfield Choral Society. He performed in the State College Opera Society and was director of music at St. John’s Lutheran Church.
Along with his wife “Ginny,” he was owner and proprietor of the historic Christopher Kratzer House Bed and Breakfast since 1991.
He is survived by his two children, Paige Riggins of Orlando, Fla., and Tim Baggett of Los Angeles, Calif. Also surviving are two grandchildren, Austin and Baylee Riggins and a sister, Jeanine Kornstein and her husband, Robert of San Dimas, Calif.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 9 at the Clearfield Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dr. Jimmy Hopper and Mr. Richard B. Barkley co-officiating.
There will be a time of receiving of friends at a light luncheon following the service held at the church hall. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Clearfield Arts Studio Theatre, P.O. Box 613 Clearfield, PA 16830.
Online tributes can be made at www.bennettandhouser.com or www.mem.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Bennett & Houser Funeral Home Inc., Clearfield.
