Don Bagley, Bass, 1927, Salt Lake City, Ut
Between 1945 and 1950 Don attended Los Angeles City College where he studied double bass, composition, and arranging. While attending school he also worked with Wingy Manone and Shorty Sherock. During the early '50s he performed and recorded with Stan Kenton. He later recorded with Nat "King" Cole, Maynard Ferguson, and Dexter Gordon. Don also spent time in Stockholm where he recorded with Zoot Sims, Lars Gullin, and a sextet led by Frank Rosolino. During the latter '60s he worked mainly with Kenton and Les Brown, but also recorded as a leader, with sidemen such as Jimmy Rowles and Shelly Manne, and Phil Woods. Bagley also worked with groups led by Pete Fountain and Ben Webster during this same period. From the mid '70s to the mid '80s Don worked with Burt Bacharach. Even though he was active with groups of his own and performed with numerous others, Don always seemed to have time for television and film work..
Carl Fontana, Trombone, 1928, Monroe, LA
Carl began his music education as a student of his father who was a bandleader and saxophonist, and later played in his band from 1941 to 1943. He graduated from Lousiana State University where he studied the trombone and composition. He first gained notoriety as a trombonist while working with Woody Herman's band in the early '50s. Over the next few years Fontana played for Lionel Hampton, and Hal McIntyre, before joining Stan Kenton , with whom he did much of the solo work on many of Kenton's hit records such as "Intermission Riff", and "Recuerdos". During this period he also recorded in France with the group, Kentonians (a group of former Kenton sidemen). After leaving the Kenton band in the mid '50s, Carl played and recorded with Kai Winding's unique group of four trombonists and a rhythm section. In the late '50s he made his home in Las Vegas where he worked regularly in show bands. He once again played for Woody Herman on a foreign tour sponsored by the U.S. State Department in 1966. Carl's solos showed a wonderful ability to develop themes as he played.. He was highly respected as a trombonist, much liked by his fellow musicians, and constantly in demand for recording sessions. Carl Fontano died in 2004.
