Muggsy spanier and his dixieland band costumes

Considered one of the greatest cornet players in history and noted for his mastery of the plunger, Muggsy Spanier began his career on the Chicago jazz scene during the late 1910s and made his first recording in 1925. He spent a number of years playing for Ted Lewis, with whose band he toured Europe and appeared on film. After leading his own seven-piece Dixieland group in the late 1930s, Spanier joined Bob Crosby’s band in May 1940, staying less than a year before announcing in January 1941 that he would form his own full orchestra.

Patterned similar to Crosby’s outfit, Spanier’s group played Dixieland-inspired swing, with a small set of musicians breaking out of the band to play pure Dixieland. Spanier had “unlimited” backing by a group of Chicago businessmen, which included his brother, and prime choice of New York musicians, who were excited at the chance to join. Before Spanier had even left Crosby and returned to New York, auditions began and a record deal was