Did you ever notice that everyone seemed to have these books out except Bix?
That's because everything that he played was being copied anyway. He was getting a bit tired of it.
I just realized that I haven't uploaded any photographs of Velma Middleton doing a split! Sorry. It won't happen again.
<---The One And Only!
Bix would let his hair grow long to cover up his ears. The shape of his ears really bothered him as a kid. The girls sure didn't seem to mind!
DID YOU KNOW? That I am usually contacted about once or twice a month by different archives wanting the Phil Evans Collection? I even get offers of "Honorary" positions on their boards. And they get very upset when I refuse to turn it over. Everybody is well aware that I have been taking care of this collection for years. In 2003, the 100th birthday of Bix, every jazz organization in the world held tributes to Bix Beiderbecke. And rightly so! Yet, I was not once contacted, asked to attend, play or help out in any activity during that year. Or for that matter any year...ever! If you don't like the way I play music...fine. I've never had a bad review in my life. But I could have put on a "show & tell" of original photos, and more related items than you've ever seen in your life! Interesting, eh? I was told why later. Choices had to be made. Anyone or anything, that could bring into question the honesty of those who have proclaimed themselves the ultimate resource on Bix Beiderbecke, must be silenced. And the best weapon is....insinuation. It worked on Phil! I thought he was crazy too, before I got to know him, of course. As long as the information is in the hands of an "unknown", there's no problem! And the right words to the right people will see to that! Very effective! But in the end, when the bubble bursts, it will be just that much more they have to answer for. And it's all here (in the next room)! I'll bet there's a few folks who are concerned & dying to know what's in there. And they should be!! UPDATE! 4//4/08 I have been asked to speak at this years Bix Festival in Davenport! If you're a real Bix fan, try to be there. I promise you, you'll hear and learn things you never knew existed. Also...Downbeat Magazine is planning a feature story on Moi, and the archive & restoration work that I've been doing. So far, it's scheduled for a June or July release. Should be fun to do a road trip again AND without Redbone!
AND where are Curt Hitch & His Happy Harmonists when you really need them?
Here's a close-up of a Whiteman photo that some thought Bix may have been in, but the copy was pretty fuzzy. This one isn't. And no Bix.
Ok boys! From the top, one more time. Ready? "Lordy how they play it..."
The 1923 edition of Jean Goldkette's Orchestra Paul Mertz looks young enough to be a member of "Our Gang".
GIVE UP? Ok. Game over. It's another photo of Fred Bergin's Orchestra.
Hi Folks. Lillian Russell here. I've been dead since 1921. But if I weren't, I'd be out there buying Kazoo Lips CD's. Diamond Jim Brady was going to buy me a copy of every one that they have out. Then we realized that the CD player hasn't been invented yet. But it's worth the wait!
