Donald Neff Bagley (July 18, 1927 – July 26, 2012) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

bassist.

Career

Bagley was born on July 18, 1927 in

Salt Lake City Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the capital and most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in Utah. With a population of 200,133 in 2020, th ...

Utah Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to it ...

. He received formal training on the

double bass The double bass (), also known simply as the bass () (or by other names), is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed (or plucked) string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra (excluding unorthodox additions such as the octobass). Similar i ...

. He studied in Los Angeles and played in 1945 with

Shorty Sherock Clarence Francis Cherock known professionally as Shorty Sherock (November 17, 1915 – February 19, 1980) was an American swing jazz trumpeter. Career He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Sherock attended the Illinois Military ...

and

Wingy Manone Joseph Matthews "Wingy" Manone (February 13, 1900 – July 9, 1982) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, singer, and bandleader. His recordings included " Tar Paper Stomp", "Nickel in the Slot", "Downright Disgusted Blues", "There'll Come a ...

, and in 1948 with Dick Pierce. From 1950 to 1953, and sporadically thereafter, Bagley played with

Stan Kenton Stanley Newcomb Kenton (December 15, 1911 – August 25, 1979) was an American popular music and jazz artist. As a pianist, composer, arranger and band leader, he led an innovative and influential jazz orchestra for almost four decades. Though K ...

; during Bagley's time with Kenton, "A Study for Bass" by Bill Russo and "Bags" by Bill Holman were written to feature Bagley's playing. Beginning in 1954, he fronted his own ensembles. Between 1950 and 1952, he worked extensively as a session musician with

Nat King Cole Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor. Cole's music career began after he dropped out of school at the age of 15, and continued f ...

, Maynard Ferguson, and

Dexter Gordon Dexter Gordon (February 27, 1923 – April 25, 1990) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, bandleader, and actor. He was among the most influential early bebop musicians, which included other greats such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gi ...

. In the middle of the 1950s, he played in Europe with

Zoot Sims John Haley "Zoot" Sims (October 29, 1925 – March 23, 1985) was an American jazz saxophonist, playing mainly tenor but also alto (and, later, soprano) saxophone. He first gained attention in the "Four Brothers" sax section of Woody Herman's big ...

Lars Gullin Lars Gunnar Victor Gullin (4 May 1928 – 17 May 1976) was a Swedish jazz saxophonist. Career Lars Gullin was born in Visby, Sweden. He was a child prodigy on the accordion. At age thirteen, he played clarinet in a military band and later l ...

Frank Rosolino Frank Rosolino (August 20, 1926 – November 26, 1978) was an American jazz trombonist. Biography Rosolino was born in Detroit, Michigan, United States, He performed with the big bands of Bob Chester, Glen Gray, Tony Pastor, Herbie Fields, Ge ...

, and

Åke Persson Åke Persson (February 25, 1932 – February 5, 1975) was a Swedish bebop jazz trombonist. Biography Persson was born in Hässleholm, southern Sweden and started his music career by playing valve trumper in school. Persson, known as "the Comet ...

. Between 1956 and 1967, he again worked with Kenton and with Les Brown; toward the end of the 1950s, he also played with

Jimmie Rowles James George Hunter (August 19, 1918 – May 28, 1996), known professionally as Jimmy Rowles (sometimes spelled Jimmie Rowles), was an American jazz pianist, vocalist, and composer. As a bandleader and accompanist, he explored multiple styles in ...

Shelly Manne Sheldon "Shelly" Manne (June 11, 1920 – September 26, 1984) was an American jazz drummer. Most frequently associated with West Coast jazz, he was known for his versatility and also played in a number of other styles, including Dixieland, sw ...

, and

Phil Woods Philip Wells Woods (November 2, 1931 – September 29, 2015) was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader, and composer. Biography Woods was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. After inheriting a saxophone at age 12, he began ...

. In 1957 and 1958, he recorded three albums under his own name. In 1959 he played with

Pete Fountain Pierre Dewey LaFontaine Jr. (July 3, 1930 – August 6, 2016), known professionally as Pete Fountain, was an American jazz clarinetist. Early life and education LaFontaine was born to Pierre, Sr. and Madeline, in a small Creole cottage-style f ...

; in 1961 ,he did a session with

Ben Webster Benjamin Francis Webster (March 27, 1909 – September 20, 1973) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Career Early life and career A native of Kansas City, Missouri, he studied violin, learned how to play blues on the piano from ...

. In 1964, he performed in Japan with Julie London. In the 1970s and 1980s, Bagley composed and arranged for film and television, including the scores to ''

Mama's Dirty Girls ''Mama's Dirty Girls'' is a 1974 exploitation film starring Gloria Grahame and Candice Rialson about a woman and her three daughters who murder men for money. Plot Mama loves men, but she loves money even more. She's trained her three teenage da ...

'' (1974), ''The Manhandlers'' (1974), ''

The Swinging Barmaids ''The Swinging Barmaids'' is a 1975 American exploitation film about a serial killer who targets cocktail waitresses. The film was directed by Gus Trikonis, and stars Bruce Watson, Laura Hippe, William Smith, and Dyanne Thorne. Plot After murde ...

'' (1975), ''The Student Body'' (1976), ''

Young Lady Chatterley ''Young Lady Chatterley'' is an American 1977 softcore pornographic film directed by Alan Roberts and starring Harlee McBride, Peter Ratray, and Lawrence Montaigne. The film was followed by a sequel in 1985, '' Young Lady Chatterley II''. Prem ...

'' (1977) and '' Sacred Ground'' (1983). Between 1976 and 1984, he worked with Burt Bacharach. Bagley died on July 26, 2012 at the age of 85.

Discography

* ''Basically Bagley'' (Dot, 1957) with

Jimmy Rowles James George Hunter (August 19, 1918 – May 28, 1996), known professionally as Jimmy Rowles (sometimes spelled Jimmie Rowles), was an American jazz pianist, vocalist, and composer. As a bandleader and accompanist, he explored multiple styles in ...

* ''Jazz On The Rocks'' (Regent, 1958; CD reissue on Blue Moon, 1999) with

Eddie Costa Edwin James Costa (August 14, 1930 – July 28, 1962) was an American jazz pianist, vibraphonist, composer and arranger. In 1957, he was chosen as ''DownBeat'' jazz critics' new star on piano and vibes – the first time that one artist won two ...

Sal Salvador Sal Salvador (November 21, 1925 – September 22, 1999) was an American bebop jazz guitarist and a prominent music educator. He was born in Monson, Massachusetts, United States, and began his professional career in New York City. He eventually m ...

, Charlie Persip * ''The Soft Sell'' (Dot, 1958; CD reissue on Blue Moon, 1999) with Paul Horn,

With

*''

Innovations in Modern Music ''Innovations in Modern Music'' is an album by pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton with his "Innovations" Orchestra featuring performances recorded in 1950 and originally released on the Capitol label.Vosbein, PStan Kenton Discographyaccessed Apri ...

'' (Capitol, 1950) *'' Stan Kenton Presents'' (Capitol, 1950) *'' Popular Favorites by Stan Kenton'' (Capitol, 1953) *''

Sketches on Standards ''Sketches on Standards'' (subtitled ''Request selections from the Kenton Dance Library'') is an album by pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton featuring performances of jazz standards recorded in 1953 and originally released on the Capitol label as ...

'' (Capitol, 1953) *''

This Modern World ''This Modern World'' is a weekly satirical comic strip by cartoonist and political commentator Tom Tomorrow (real name Dan Perkins) that covers current events from a left-wing point of view. Published continuously for more than 30 years, ''Th ...

'' (Capitol, 1953) *'' Portraits on Standards'' (Capitol, 1953) *''

Kenton Showcase ''Kenton Showcase'' refers to two 10-inch LPs by bandleader Stan Kenton recorded in early 1954 on Capitol, one each featuring compositions by Bill Holman and Bill Russo. These albums were combined as a 12-inch LP in 1955.Vosbein, PStan Kenton Dis ...

'' (Capitol, 1954) *''

The Kenton Era ''The Kenton Era'' is a compilation album by pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton featuring recordings from 1940 to 1954 which was originally released in two limited edition box sets, as fifteen 7 inch 45 rpm discs and four 12 inch LPs, on Capitol i ...

'' (Capitol, 1940–54,

955 Year 955 ( CMLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * August 10 – Battle of Lechfeld: King Otto I ("the Great") defeats the Hungarians (also ...

*''

Kenton with Voices ''Kenton with Voices'' is an album by bandleader and pianist Stan Kenton featuring performances recorded in 1957 and released on the Capitol label.Vosbein, PStan Kenton Discographyaccessed April 16, 2016Lush Interlude'' (Capitol, 1958) *'' Two Much!'' (Capitol, 1960) with

Ann Richards Dorothy Ann Richards (née Willis; September 1, 1933 – September 13, 2006) was an American politician who served as the 45th governor of Texas from 1991 to 1995. A Democrat, she first came to national attention as the Texas State Treasurer, w ...

*'' Stan Kenton! Tex Ritter!'' (Capitol, 1962) with

Tex Ritter Woodward Maurice Ritter (January 12, 1905 – January 2, 1974) was a pioneer of American country music, a popular singer and actor from the mid-1930s into the 1960s, and the patriarch of the Ritter acting family (son John, grandsons Jason and ...

*'' Artistry in Bossa Nova'' (Capitol, 1963) *'' Artistry in Voices and Brass'' (Capitol, 1963) *'' Kenton / Wagner'' (Capitol, 1964) *'' The World We Know'' (Capitol, 1967) *''