Here is a man whose reputation as father, husband and even just as a human being, has been ruined almost beyond repair, all due a pack of lies without the slightest hint truth to them. Bismark H. Beiderbecke, the original "Bix". All due to a writer who projected his own family demons on Bix to send a message to his own father. Even his German heritage has been used against him, worked into a bloodless Teutonic stereotype. Every one of those tales which are now an accepted part of Bix Sr.'s legacy were made up. To make matters worse, other writers since have picked up this thread and have embellished it even further over the years. The truth is that Bismarck was a very loving father who loved his youngest boy as much, if not more than any father who came before or since him. Bismark was always around to play ball with Bix as a kid, a shared passion. They also spent many hours together shooting pool, another shared love. His father was there and was only too glad to help Bix through troubled times, either with fatherly advice or with a few bucks if that what was needed. Bix idolized his father. The only shame that was felt in the Beiderbecke family when alcohol was getting the better of Bix, was the shame felt by Bix himself. His home was just that, and the door was NEVER shut to him at any stage of his life. But every legend needs a foil to expose the deep rooted reason that was the cause of the downfall of it's hero. So they picked Bismark. Had Bix lived to read this garbage about his family, there is NO doubt in my mind that he would have shed the "writers" blood like a Southside Chicago slaughterhouse. You don't have to be a researcher to find out where the lies about Bix's family and the rubbish about homosexual encounters come from. Just a casual checking around into the family history of both of these writers clearly reveals all. Look for yourself, then judge THEM for the horrible picture they painted of a good, hard working honest family man, and made it stick. So Bismark, here's to you! You were a fine man, much loved by your family and friends. You sired a brood of good natured, kind human beings, and they have passed these traits on through the generations. I haven't met one yet who wasn't wonderful!! Thanks.
Bix's own "In A Mist" with inscription to the man who spent countless hours transcribing Bix's beautiful musical ideas into a form which will make them last forever. Bix's pal and musical scribe, Bill Challis.
Another composition to another good friend who was only too happy to catch Bix when he slipped, Leo McConville. Bix wasn't the type who would forget acts of kindness like this. Leo's letters make this clear.
"Compliments Of The Composer" Why, thank you Bix!
On July 3, 1925, Bix joined his pal Nat Natoli and his Orchestra at Walled Lake. It only lasted a few days, but he really like the band.
And this is the bandstand at Walled Lake that Bix played while with Nat Natoli's Orchestra. It was a pretty huge place, I had to really enlarge the original photo and crop the stage to get a decent view. This photo was taken a year or so after Bix's engagement here.
The Owls-New Orleans Finest.
The Bandstand of the Casino (The Blue Lantern) at Hudson Lake, Indiana, many years after the famed 1926 season that featured Bix & Pee Wee. It looks pretty much the same as it did back then.
The back of the Casino, supposedly taken around 1926.
A very nice portrait of Bee Palmer taken in 1918. The ad below it is from 1928, when Jimmy McPartland got to know Bee very, very well.
In 1921, Howdy Quicksell married a young girl, and it didn't seem to have lasted very long. The fact that she was still in high school at the time probably didn't help matters very much either.
Peavey's Jazz Bandits. This was the first jazz band that Eddie Condon ever joined. He was 16 years old at the time. Bix came very close to joining this outfit at one time. In later years, Hollis Peavey became the long time mayor of a small town.
Jimmy Hick's had just heard about the new Kazoo Lips CD release. A mere speeding ticket means nothing when there is rare jazz involved! This was before they had tasers. The police just shot out his tires and then clubbed him. He later said that it was well worth it.
