This is when Sidney Bechet shot Mike McKendrick in the ass in Paris, where they were performing at the time. Well, they weren't performing in his ass..you know what I mean...anyway, it was over a girl.
Here's an article of about the legendary prison band that was formed by Jack Purvis in 1938. They had plenty of time to practice!
It's hard to imagine now, but this would have been a bill that would have sold out most theaters around 1920.
Bee Palmer and Mae West on the same bill! AND....Bee has billing OVER Mae West!
"The Hottest Thing Since The Chicago Fire!" You bet! AND they're playing with SONIA MEROFF!! How is THAT for a bill? Ok.... I have no idea who she is either. But I think Benny is tied in somehow. And that should be Richard McPartland not William, Jimmy's brother. Dick played fine Segovia style guitar.
Lillian Gish and the Mound City Blue Blowers! Add that to Carl Kress doing some yodeling and you have pure showbiz. And a good reason to drink.
Goodbye Sidney! Come home soon! Did you pack your gun? Oh, that's good. Say Hi to Mike McKendrick for me!
Another member of the Class of 1928 passes on.
Here is Sidney back in 1919, getting ready for his first trip to Europe. He brought everything from home that he would need. Clarinet, Soprano Sax, clothes and .38.
Sidney's Registration Card during WWI. Notice his birthday is 1896? Hmm. I don't know they didn't take him. He was pretty handy with a gun. Everybody from New Orleans can do that thing! Hey-Hey!
After shooting Mike and a couple of others, Sidney ends up in the 'le Cooler for a spell. Gets out and deported. Made several trips after that and in the late 1940's he moves there for good. The bad news is, so does Mezz Mezzrow. When Sidney was on his deathbed, musicians came to pay their last visits. When Mezz showed up, Sidney almost jumped out of his death bed. "That sonofabitch owes me money! If he doesn't have it, Throw Him Out!"
In 1948, Louis Armstrong and His All Stars made a trip to France. Here's a page from the passenger's list.
