[2] In 1918, he joined John Philip Sousa's band as the assistant to cornet soloist Frank Simon.

[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.

His first appearance with The Goldman Band in Central Park before a crowd of over 25,000 people drew vociferous applause and bravos.

[1] In the words of Edwin Franko Goldman, Staigers was the "greatest cornetist in the world".