Musician. He received much acclaim in the international jazz community during his 45-year musical career playing the baritone saxophone, but also playing the alto and soprano as well as the flute and clarinet. His 1981 album “L.A. Bound” was nominated for a Grammy. He made more than 20 LP albums along with steady employment as a respected sideman and featured guest soloist until the time of his death. Starting with studying the clarinet at the age of eleven, he soon branched to the saxophone and flute. He began playing the baritone saxophone when it was loan to him by a music store as a replacement instrument while his alto was being repaired. He was most influenced by Harry Carney of the esteemed Duke Ellington band; Carney even personally tutored him. Joining a group from Ithaca College called the Markewich Quintet, his first recording was “New Designs in Jazz” dating 1957. He earned a Benny Goodman scholarship at Boston's Berklee College of Music in 1958. In 1959 he was the recipient of Down Beat Magazine's International Critic's Poll as the “New Star.” After playing with several musicians such as Herb Pomeroy, Dick Berk, and Cal Tjader, he recorded his first album, “This Is It!” playing lead in 1967. He played with the Woody Herman and His Swingin' Herd on Canadian TV in 1964, which was later released in 2005 on DVD. In a 1967 he had an European tour playing with trumpeter Ted Curson and played at the Newport and Monterrey Jazz Festivals. In 1969, he formed a group, “Endangered Species,” and opening for rock groups Blood, Sweat, and Tears and Cat Stevens. Then on in to the 1990's played with numerous musicians such as drummer Buddy Rich , trumpeters Miles Davis and others. He taught music theory and jazz history in New York at the University at Albany, Renesselar Polytechnic Institute, and others. After dying from cancer, The College of Saint Rose, where he helped established a jazz studies in the curriculum, now has a scholarship in his honor. Besides his first 1967 recording, his albums as a leader include ''Baritone Madness'' in 1977, ''Burn Brigade'' in 1979, ''Signals in From Somewhere'' in 1983, ''Northern Lights'' in 1984, ''Raincheck'' in 1989, ''On a Different Level'' in 1990, ''What It Takes'' in 1991, ''It's Time!'' in 1993 and ''Nick Brignola Live at Sweet Basil'' 1993. His last recording was “Things Aint' What They Used to Be, ” which was released posthumously in 2003.