STAGG McMANN - OLD MYSTERY

[BassHarper@xxxxxxx]

Great to see references to Stagg on the Harp-L - and the info posted by Jack
and Richard.

I'll add what I know about Stagg (Hugh "Pud" McCaskey).  The story of the 3
albums in the Happy Harmonica series on Sunnyvale Records is told on page 71
of Kim Field's book.  The first album, titled "The Great Harmonica Hits", was
recorded in 1976 with Stagg and Jerry Murad sharing the overdubs.  The bass
parts were played by Jerry on a 64 chromatic through an octaver effect.  Of
course the chord parts were played by Stagg, and both shared lead/harmony on
chromatic.  Then as Kim notes, Jerry was unable to "get it together"
time-wise to complete the 2nd album.  Since they were under contract, and
Stagg was getting anxious to get it done, he made the 2nd album himself,
playing all the parts himself.  It was titled "Best Of The Big Bands" (1976),
and featured stock chart arrangements of Glenn Miller, Harry James, Benny
Goodman, Glen Gray, and Billy Rose.  Then Jerry decided he wanted to complete
the album that was supposed to be released 2nd, and he and Stagg together
again recorded "Show Stoppers" (1977).  Again, Jerry played bass on 64
chromatic as in the 1st album.  Thus the 3 albums.

The Stagg McMann Trio album that Jack spoke of was recorded in 1950, and Tony
& John Luisi were the arrangers for most of the charts.  (That in itself is
another story.)  Agreeably "an incredible display of virtuosity", as Jack
stated.  The names of the 3 members of the trio were:  Emanuel W. Smith
(Manny) - Chord, Hugh K. (Pud) McCaskey - Chromatic, and Paul H. Steigerwald
(Stag) - Bass - thus the acronym, Stagg McMann.

Danny Wilson (BassHarp)