The Del Staigers Tribute Page

Cornet and Trumpet Virtuoso with the Conway, Sousa and Goldman Bands

Cornet Soloists with the Goldman Band

    The Goldman Band, (formerly known as The New York Military Band) was founded in 1911 by Dr. Edwin Franko Goldman and has - for decades - widely been considered the successor to the great Sousa Band. Dr. Goldman was in his own right a famous cornet soloist with the Metropolitan Opera and a former student of the celebrated cornet soloist Jules Levy.

      The band was known as the NY Military Band through 1920. It had no official cornet soloist until Ernest Williams joined the band in 1918. The Goldman Band often featured other cornet soloists. Some were from the band's cornet section while others were prominet soloists of the day.

      The Goldman Band ceased operations in May of 2005 after thrilling audiences for 94 years. You are listening to a recording of "The Woodup Quickstep" recorded in Manhatten in 1965 with James F. Burke on solo Bb cornet, Mel Broiles on solo Eb cornet and John "Ned" Mahoney playing 2nd Bb cornet.

      Below are the distinguished gentlemen who have have had the great honor of being the official cornet soloist with The Goldman Band. Click on any photo for a short bio on the respective soloist.

         

Ernest S. Williams                    Waino Kauppi                      Del Staigers  

            1918-1922                                  1923-1925                        1926-1934; 1942

     

   David Rosebrook                       Frank Elsass                              Leonard B. Smith 

              1935*                                        1935                                              1936-1942

        

          James F. Burke                           Syd Baker                            Frank Hosticka   

       1943-1974                                   1974-1975                                1976-2005

* - David Rosebrook was the soloist for the first 5 weeks of the 1935 season. He became ill, and this was ultimately the last organization he performed with. Frank Elsass finished out the year and then became 3rd cornet and assistant 1st cornet to Leonard B. Smith, and was 3rd cornet in the famous Goldman Band Trio  of Leonard B. Smith, John "Ned" Mahoney and Frank Elsass. Photo of Wainno Kauppi courtesy John "Ned" Mahoney. Photo of Syd Baker courtesy of Syd Baker. Photo of Frank Hosticka courtesy of Howie Harris.

The Famous Goldman Band Trio

Photo of the famous Goldman Band Trio, autographed by cornest soloists Leonard B. Smith, Ned Mahoney and Frank Elsass and the composer of "Annie Laurie", Cuyler Hershey Leonard. Photo kind courtesy of  John "Ned" Mahoney. Special thanks to Eric Olsen and Chris Charvat for helping out with the graphics and transferring photo to this site.