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Donald Neff Bagley was born on July 18, 1927 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He received formal training on the double bass, and studied in Los Angeles, California. He played in 1945 with Shorty Sherock and Wingy Manone, and in 1948 with Dick Pierce.

From 1950 to 1953, and sporadically thereafter, Bagley played with Stan Kenton and during his time with Kenton, A Study for Bass by Bill Russo and Bags by Bill Holman were written to feature his playing. Beginning in 1954, he fronted his own ensembles. Between 1950 and 1952, he worked extensively as a session musician with Nat King Cole, Maynard Ferguson, and Dexter Gordon. In the middle of the 1950s, he played in Europe with Zoot Sims, Lars Gullin, Frank Rosolino, and Åke Persson.

From 1956 to 1967, he returned to Kenton and worked with Les Brown. Toward the end of the 1950s he  played with Jimmie Rowles, Shelly Manne, and Phil Woods. Don played with Pete Fountain, did a session with Ben Webster, and performed in Japan with Julie London. In the 1970s and 1980s, Bagley composed and arranged for film and television. Between 1976 and 1984, he worked with Burt Bacharach.

Double bassist Don Bagley, who recorded three albums under his own name, passed away on July 26, 2012 at the age of 85.

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