PHIL EVANS COLLECTION Page 31 RESEARCH vs SELLING A STORY
Step right up folks! See the standards R.S. used to tell you in "his" book, the life of Bix Beiderbecke. Why isn't he held to the same standards as anyone else is when it comes to telling the truth? Compromise = Bullshit in any researchers book. And anyone who would defend this kind of garbage isn't worth listening to either! If they can justify defending "I PLEAD GUILTY TO A BIT OF DRAMATIC FABRICATION HERE" , Ask what means more to them, Bix's legacy or their own status? What do YOU prefer to know? The "Man" or the "Legend"? Your choice. The "Legend" has been a source of income for some for years. No more.
Spiegle Willcox. A close pal of Phil Evans for over 40 years. He never hesitated telling folks what happened to the 1974 book. And in 1999, at the age of 96, he gave a taped deposition to use in the Federal Court case that was filed against Phil by yet someone else who dreamed of being "The Big Bix Guy" in the eyes of all by claiming Phil's life work as his own. You should hear what Spiegle had to say about this guy, as well as the others! And perhaps you will. Within six months both Spiegle and Phil were gone forever. And it's been pretty damned lonely ever since.
A true researcher hard at work. In another letter he wanted to know what part of Rhode Island was Lou Black of the NORK from! He was from Rock Island right across the river from Davenport. Also notice that most of his questions seek the "dark side" of Joe Rushton's life. He had none.
<--- Al Rinker comments on Phil Evans writing. The letter was read by Robert Mantler and contained the questions to be asked of Al Rinker.
Instead of telling R. Sudhalter to do his own research for his book, Phil Evans gave him the information he needed. Only because he dreaded the thought of lies being published about his close friends. And even after helping him with his book. He puts Phil down in several sections and used his private material without permission. Page 2 is below on left side.
A letter from Ruth Shaffner, Bix's girlfriend during his days with Tram in St. Louis.
More reaction from Ruth in 1974.
Left: The book is out. Phil is mad. Richard is trying to convince him to forget about how he changed the billing. The book is a success, and he should just enjoy it. Notice the struggle to please his parents? Sound familiar?
As I've pointed out before, if there is anyone who wants to make an issue out of the above facts, the answer is quite simple. Provide a written and signed contract by all of the parties mentioned above that state otherwise. If you can, then you'll be right and I'll be wrong! It's that easy. But if you are going to try and sell the public a load of crap based just on your attitude and "superior" sense of judgement, you are 20 years too late. Most people who are devoted to Bix know what really happened back in 1974, and what another wanna-be tried to do in 1999.
<------ "Your Book" Once it became a hit though......
And This is how it all got started. Just with a simple re-write being done to a finished book, in spite of him saying that it wasn't simple. What Phil thought was the completion of a dream turned into the beginning of a nightmare for him. And a great opportunity for another to resolve his family issues and "undeserved semi-obscurity" at someone else's expense and life's work.
