Michael Haggins
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Michael Haggins, electric bassist and songwriter, is a consummate craftsman of smooth jazz tinged with funk and old school R&B. Inspired by the likes of Stanley Clarke, the Isley Brothers, George Duke, and Earth, Wind & Fire, Michael was born into a family with impressive musical roots. His uncle, Al Duncan, was a classic session drummer who urged Michael to take a career in music seriously. (Al is known as one of the less than half dozen key studio legends from the 50’s & 60’s who’ve been called “the grandfathers of groove”.) Al played jazz, blues, rock and gospel, and was as comfortable as a house drummer playing with the jazz of Willie Dixon, Count Basie and Duke Ellington, as the rock of The Miracles, The Temptations or Marvin Gaye.
Though Michael started with a guitar at 8, he’d moved to the alto sax on the 5th grade, finally ending up at 10 with the electric bass that now defines his work. He studied jazz at Pasadena City College, and in the ‘80’s, played with future Billboard chart-topper Robbie Nevil. He picked up work with other groups along the way until 2000 when he decided to form his own Band and record his compositions on his own label, Cuate Records. By 2004, he’d released his first CD, “Daybreak” (whose title song would later be heard on many episodes of NBC’s Emmy-winning Community), followed by “Traffic” in 2008 (recognized as one of the top ten albums in 2009 by Smooth Jazz Magazine), and “Dare To Dream” in 2015. The Michael Haggins Band performs extensively at venues throughout southern California blissfully sharing the sounds of laid back west coast smooth jazz. |
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Michael and Berry Gordy
Michael with Berry Gordy at a Fisherman’s Village gig in Marina del Rey, CA. Gordy had stopped by to purchase a couple of “Daybreak” CDs, and upon meeting Michael, told him his bass playing reminded him of James Jamerson. (Jamerson, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, was the bassist on most of the Motown hits, and is now regarded as one of the most influential bass players in modern music history.) High praise, indeed! |
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Michael and Pat Prescott
Michael at his on-air live broadcast interview with Pat Prescott, the morning host of 94.7 the WAVE, while at the WAVE’s sponsored jazz Sunday brunch at Spaghettini in Seal Beach, CA. Michael was promoting his upcoming weekend show at the Club. Later that afternoon, he sat-in and performed with DW3, Spaghettini’s house band. |
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Michael at Playboy Mansion
Michael was close to front and center, right behind Hugh Hefner and George Wein (jazz promoter and founder of the Playboy Jazz Festival), at a press conference announcing the 2006 Festival. Michael’s band played on the Community Stage held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, that year. 
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For Community fans
“I’d like to personally thank all the fans of this Show who’ve made it an iconic touchstone of my career so far,” Michael Haggins said. “I wrote it during a time when my faith was being tested, and trying to decide where to go with my music. The response to “Daybreak” was so phenomenal for me, certainly a musician’s dream come true. It would be great to do a Community concert gathering fans and cast for a fun reunion. Who knows what the future will hold, but bringing back treasured TV series seems to be in vogue these days. I’m just so grateful to have been associated with such a classic piece of TV history!
Michael & Community
Michael’s song “Daybreak” was part of a running musical gag on NBC’s prime time comedy hit, Community, being hummed by various cast members in a dozen episodes. Invited to the set on several occasions, his on-screen cameo unfortunately ended up on the cutting room floor. Here, he’s pictured with Donald Glover (Troy), Danny Pudi (Abed) and Alison Brie (Annie). Right, he shares the “Daybreak" CD with Yvette Nicole Brown (Shirley).
Michael’s song “Daybreak” was part of a running musical gag on NBC’s prime time comedy hit, Community, being hummed by various cast members in a dozen episodes. Invited to the set on several occasions, his on-screen cameo unfortunately ended up on the cutting room floor. Here, he’s pictured with Donald Glover (Troy), Danny Pudi (Abed) and Alison Brie (Annie). Right, he shares the “Daybreak" CD with Yvette Nicole Brown (Shirley).
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