Del Staigers Explained

Del Staigers
Birth Name:	Charles Delaware Staigers
Birth Date:	20 August 1899
Birth Place:	Muncie, Indiana, United States
Death Date:	Los Angeles, California
Instrument:	Trumpet, Cornet
Genre:	Concert band
Occupation:	Musician
Years Active:	1914-1950
Label:	RCA Victor Records, Capitol Records
Associated Acts:	Patrick Conway, John Philip Sousa, Nat Shilkret, Goldman Band

Charles Delaware Staigers was an American cornetist. He was born on August 20, 1899, in Muncie, Indiana.^[1] In 1914, he was hired to play in Patrick Conway's band.^[2] In 1918, he joined John Philip Sousa's band as the assistant to cornet soloist Frank Simon. He stayed with John Philip Sousa through 1920.^[3] He played "Taps" at John Philip Sousa's funeral.^[2] After leaving Sousa, he became first trumpeter at The Hippodrome and later at The Strand Theatre in New York City.^[2] In 1926, he joined the Goldman Band. His first appearance with The Goldman Band in Central Park before a crowd of over 25,000 people drew vociferous applause and bravos.^[2] He played with The Goldman Band through 1934,^[4] and also for the 1942 season.^[5]

He died on July 12, 1950, at age 50.^[1] In the words of Edwin Franko Goldman, Staigers was the "greatest cornetist in the world".^[6]

Discography

Solo recordings

• The Carnival Of Venice (1929) [Victor 21191-A]
• Napoli-Bellstedt (1929) [Victor 21191-B]
• My Heaven Of Love (1929) [Victor 22429-A]
  • (Recorded October 25, 1929, at Liederkranz Hall, New York City.)
• Mi Cielo De Amor (1930) [Victor 22429-A]
• (Released In Italy)
• Princess Alice-Bellstedt (1929-1930) [Unknown]

With Nat Shilkret and The Victor Salon Group

• Oh, Promise Me (1929) [Victor 22051-B]

ARTCO recordings

• Official Bugle Calls (1939) [ARTCO 2897]
• Ten Trumpet/Cornet Instruction Lessons (1939) [ARTCO]

Children's recordings

• Rusty In Orchestraville (1946) [Capitol BC 35]
• (Featured playing excerpt from "Carnival Of Venice" on Side 3)

Published works

• Hazel (Dedicated To My Wife) (1929) Carl Fischer
  • Solo or Duet for various wind instruments
• The Carnival Of Venice (1936) Carl Fischer
  • Solo for trumpet or cornet with band or piano accompaniment
• The Three Stars (1940) Carl Fischer
  • Trumpet trio with piano
• Flexibility Studies and Technical Drills - Part 1 [0 3564] (1950) Carl Fischer
• Flexibility Studies and Technical Drills - Part 2 [0 3648] (1950) Carl Fischer

Unpublished works

• International Fantasie (1928)^[7]
  • Cornet Solo with Band Accompaniment
• Fantasie Caprice (1932)^[8]
  • Cornet Solo with Band Accompaniment
• Capitol City (March) (1934)^[9]
  • March for Concert Band

External links

• Del Staigers - Cornet & Trumpet Soloist - YouTube
• Staigers, Del - Discography of American Historical Recordings

Notes and References

1. News: DEL STAIGERS, 52, NOTED CORNETIST: Soloist With Goldman Band 1926-34, Dies . The New York Times . 15 July 1950 . 13.
2. A Cornetist Confesses . December 1933 . 25 . The Metronome.
3. Web site: Sousa Band Roster. 13 June 2012.
4. News: FRENCH MUSIC BY GOLDMAN: To Celebrate Bastile Day Tonight -- Last Night's Concert . The New York Times . 14 July 1926 . 19.
5. Web site: The Legacy of Edwin Franco Goldman . www.armyfieldband.com . 2021-01-31.
6. News: MALL CONCERTS END; CHEERS FOR GOLDMAN: Throng Presents Band Conductor His Portrait in Gold -- Del Staigers Gets Gold Cornet . The New York Times . 13 Aug 1927 . 10.
7. News: Goldman Concert at N.Y.U. Tonight. The New York Times .
8. News: ACTIVITIES OF MUSICIANS HERE AND AFIELD; Goldman Band Concerts -- Repertory of Cincinnati Zoo Opera Company -- Other Items. The New York Times .
9. Web site: List of goldman band programs 1915-1955 - Bing.