Jazz Musician. A double bassist and bandleader, he is most noted for his collaboration with many of the high profile jazz musicians of his time. Raised in Southern California, he studied at Los Angeles City College and at Pierce College, made his 1944 professional debut with the “Hollywood Teenagers”, and from 1945 until 1949 served in the United States Navy Band. Associated with jazz composer and arraigner Stan Kenton from 1950 through 1954, he also partnered such well known performers as Nat King Cole, Dexter Gordon, Zoot Sims, and Maynard Ferguson. As a bandleader he released three albums under his own name, "Basically Bagley" (1957) and 1958's "Jazz on the Rocks" and "The Soft Sell". Bagley again worked with Kenton from 1956 to 1967, frequently was heard with pianist Jimmie Rowles and drummer Sheldon “Shelly” Manne, and in 1964 toured Japan with singer Julie London. Over the years he conducted and arranged for a number of motion pictures and television shows including "Young Lady Chatterley" (1977), "Sacred Ground" (1983), and the "Barnaby Jones" series while leading several Christmas presentations of the London Symphony Orchestra and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. An associate of composer Burt Bacharach from 1976 to 1984, he can be heard on Bacharach's records from that time period. Bagley lived his final years in Los Angeles, California and died of age-related complications.
Jazz Musician. A double bassist and bandleader, he is most noted for his collaboration with many of the high profile jazz musicians of his time. Raised in Southern California, he studied at Los Angeles City College and at Pierce College, made his 1944 professional debut with the “Hollywood Teenagers”, and from 1945 until 1949 served in the United States Navy Band. Associated with jazz composer and arraigner Stan Kenton from 1950 through 1954, he also partnered such well known performers as Nat King Cole, Dexter Gordon, Zoot Sims, and Maynard Ferguson. As a bandleader he released three albums under his own name, "Basically Bagley" (1957) and 1958's "Jazz on the Rocks" and "The Soft Sell". Bagley again worked with Kenton from 1956 to 1967, frequently was heard with pianist Jimmie Rowles and drummer Sheldon “Shelly” Manne, and in 1964 toured Japan with singer Julie London. Over the years he conducted and arranged for a number of motion pictures and television shows including "Young Lady Chatterley" (1977), "Sacred Ground" (1983), and the "Barnaby Jones" series while leading several Christmas presentations of the London Symphony Orchestra and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. An associate of composer Burt Bacharach from 1976 to 1984, he can be heard on Bacharach's records from that time period. Bagley lived his final years in Los Angeles, California and died of age-related complications.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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