Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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SPANIER, Muggsy

(b Francis Joseph Spanier, 9 November 1906, Chicago; d 12 February 1967, Sausalito CA) Cornet, leader. One of ten children; nicknamed after a baseball manager; began on drums, switched to cornet at 13. Played in many bands, joined Ted Lewis '29-36 including a European tour, Ben Pollack '36-8; ill-health took him to the Touro clinic in New Orleans.

He formed his Ragtime Band for gigs at the Sherman Hotel in Chicago and Nick's in NYC. The band lasted less than eight months but made 16 sides at four recording sessions '39. Their music may have been heard by the public as dixieland; it was neither that nor ragtime, but Chicago style, young veterans playing the music they loved best, just as the Big Band Era had upended popular music. The band included George Clarence Brunies on trombone (b 6 February 1902, New Orleans; d 19 November 1974, Chicago; later spelled his name Georg Brunis) and George Frederick 'Rod' Cless on clarinet (b 20 May 1907, Lennox IA; d 8 December 44, NYC); Joe Bushkin played piano on one date. A blues 'Relaxin' At The Touro' was an original; of the chestnuts they revived, their 'Livery Stable Blues' was probably the sweetest version ever made. All 16 sides were reissued on two two-inch LPs in the early '50s; it was difficult to imagine how RCA Victor could have remastered so poorly recordings that were well-made at the source. A Bluebird (BMG) compilation CD in 1989 called At The Jazz Band Ball was very much better.  

Spanier rejoined Lewis, then went with Bob Crosby '40-1; led a big band '41-3 styled after Crosby's which recorded eight sides for Decca '42, 'Two O'Clock Jump' something of a hit; 'Hesitating Blues' was a 'Ragtimers' (band-within-a-band) side with Vernon Brown on trombone, Irving Fazola on clarinet. He played with Lewis again '44; led small groups, worked in '50s with Earl Hines in San Francisco. Played on Jazzology CDs The Genius Of Sidney Bechet, World's Greatest Jazz Concert No. 1 (with Wild Bill Davis, 'Hot Lips' Page) and No. 2 (with Bechet), on several volumes of the complete Eddie Condon Town Hall Concerts (see Jazzology). Bio-discography The Lonesome Road '96 by Bert Whyatt included a quintet CD, 50 minutes with Bud Freeman, Jess Stacy, Baby Dodds, Bob Casey on bass.