Muggsy Spanier

Muggsy Spanier
Spanier performing at Nick's Tavern,New York,c.June 1946
Background information
Birth name	Francis Joseph Spanier
Born	(1901-11-09)November 9, 1901 Chicago, Illinois,US
Died	February 12, 1967(1967-02-12)(aged 65) Sausalito, California,US
Genres	Jazz,Dixieland
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instrument(s)	Cornet,trumpet
Years active	1921–1964
Labels	Bluebird,Mercury,RCA

Francis Joseph"Muggsy"Spanier(November 9, 1901 – February 12, 1967)was an Americanjazzcornetistbased inChicago.He was a member ofthe Bucktown Five,pioneers of the"Chicago style"that straddled traditionalDixieland jazzandswing.

Life and career

Spanier was born inChicago,Illinois,United States.At thirteen, he began playing the cornet and played withElmer Schoebelin 1921.He borrowed thesobriquetof "Muggsy" fromJohn "Muggsy" McGraw,the manager of theNew York Giantsbaseball team.In the early 1920s, he played withthe Bucktown Five.

In 1929, he became a member of a band led byTed Lewis,then spent two years withBen Pollack.After an illness, he assembled the eight-man group Muggsy Spanier and His Ragtime Band.In 1939, the band recorded several sessions ofDixielandstandards forBluebird Records,that were later called The Great Sixteen and influenced a Dixieland revival.

The band's members includedGeorge Brunies(later Brunis - trombone and vocals),Rod Cless(clarinet), George Zack orJoe Bushkin(piano), Ray McKinstry, Nick Ciazza or Bernie Billings (tenor sax), and Bob Casey (bass).

His other most important ventures were the quartet he co-led withSidney Bechet(the 'Big Four') in 1940. From 1940 until 1941 he played withBob Crosby.In the 1950s, he moved to the West Coast and joinedEarl Hines's band from 1957 until 1959.After touring Europe, he retired in 1964.

Songs

The Ragtime Band's theme tune was "Relaxin' at the Touro", composed by Spanier and Joe Bushkin, named forTouro Infirmary,theNew Orleanshospital where Spanier had been treated for a perforated ulcer early in 1938. At the point of death, he was saved by Dr.Alton Ochsnerwho drained the fluid and eased his weakened breathing. One of Spanier's Dixieland numbers is a song he composed entitled, "Oh Doctor Ochsner."

"Relaxin' at the Touro" is a fairly straightforward12-bar blues,with a piano introduction andcodaby Joe Bushkin. The pianist recalled, many years later: "When I finally joined Muggsy in Chicago (having leftBunny Berigan'sfailing big band) we met to talk it over at the Three Deuces, whereArt Tatumwas appearing. "Muggsy was now playing oppositeFats Wallerat the Sherman hotel and we worked out a kind of stage show for the two bands. Muggsy was a man of great integrity. "We played abluesin C and I made up a little intro. After that I was listed as the co-composer of 'Relaxin' at the Touro' ".

Personal life

In 1950, in Chicago, Spanier's second marriage was to Ruth Gries O’Connell.He became the stepfather of her sons, Hollywood film writer and directorTom Gries(died 1977) and Charles Joseph Gries, later professionally known as Buddy Charles, a pop and jazz vocalist and pianist in Chicago.When Spanier was performing at a concert in Chicago in 1956, Buddy Charles was performing at the nearby Black Orchid nightclub. Spanier was heard to exclaim "that's my boy."

Muggsy Spanier died inSausalito, California,in February 1967, after years of ill health. He was 65.

Further reading

• Bert Whyatt,Muggsy Spanier: The Lonesome Road(Jazzology Press, 1996)