Bix Beiderbecke (March 10, 1903 – August 6, 1931) was a notable jazz cornet… Read Full Bio ↴Bix Beiderbecke (March 10, 1903 – August 6, 1931) was a notable jazz cornet player.
It was widely believed, for many years, that Beiderbecke's real name was Leon Bismark Beiderbecke. It is now known that this — like so many other myths about Beiderbecke — is untrue. His real name was Leon Bix Beiderbecke. Bismark was a family name, reflecting the family's German origins, but it was not given to Beiderbecke. "Bix" was a family nickname of his father and older brother, given him as a proper name.
Leon Bix Beiderbecke was born in Davenport, Iowa to a middle-class family. As a teenager he would sneak off to the banks of the Mississippi to listen to the bands play on the riverboats that would come up from the south.
Partially due to frequent absences due to illness, Beiderbecke's grades suffered. His parents felt that sending him to the exclusive Lake Forest Academy in Lake Forest, Illinois, just northwest of Chicago, would provide the attention and discipline needed to improve his schooling.
Beiderbecke's schooling there soon suffered when the only subjects he showed avid interest in were music and sports. Bix soon began going into Chicago as often as possible to catch the hot jazz bands of the day at clubs and speakeasies around Chicago, and too often didn't return in time or was found out the next day.
Beiderbecke was soon asked to leave the Academy due to his academic failings and extra-curricular activities in Chicago, and began his musical career in earnest.
Beiderbecke first recorded with his band "The Wolverine Orchestra" (usually called just The Wolverines, named for "Wolverine Blues" by Jelly Roll Morton because they played it so often) in 1924, then became a sought-after musician in Chicago, Illinois and New York City, New York. He made innovative and influential recordings with Frankie Trumbauer ("Tram") and the Jean Goldkette Orchestra. When the Goldkette Orchestra disbanded after their last recording ("In My Merry Oldsmobile"), in May 1927, Bix and Trumbauer, a 'C' Melody and alto saxophone player, briefly joined Adrian Rollini's band at the Club New Yorker, New York, before moving on to the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, the most popular and highest paid band of the day.
Beiderbecke suffered health problems from an early age, though the relentless schedule of the road and heavy drinking leading to alcoholism began to contribute to and exacerbate a decline in his health. Bix suffered from severe pain in his legs and other ill effects of prohibition era alcohol and with declining work around the New York City area, he took a turn for the worse.
Though his death certificate described the cause of death as pneumonia, and he was in seriously ill health, the circumstances immediately surrounding his death are still unclear. He died at the age of 28, in his apartment at 43-30 46th Street, Sunnyside, Queens, within the confines of the City of New York on August 6, 1931.
It was widely believed, for many years, that Beiderbecke's real name was Leon Bismark Beiderbecke. It is now known that this — like so many other myths about Beiderbecke — is untrue. His real name was Leon Bix Beiderbecke. Bismark was a family name, reflecting the family's German origins, but it was not given to Beiderbecke. "Bix" was a family nickname of his father and older brother, given him as a proper name.
Leon Bix Beiderbecke was born in Davenport, Iowa to a middle-class family. As a teenager he would sneak off to the banks of the Mississippi to listen to the bands play on the riverboats that would come up from the south.
Partially due to frequent absences due to illness, Beiderbecke's grades suffered. His parents felt that sending him to the exclusive Lake Forest Academy in Lake Forest, Illinois, just northwest of Chicago, would provide the attention and discipline needed to improve his schooling.
Beiderbecke's schooling there soon suffered when the only subjects he showed avid interest in were music and sports. Bix soon began going into Chicago as often as possible to catch the hot jazz bands of the day at clubs and speakeasies around Chicago, and too often didn't return in time or was found out the next day.
Beiderbecke was soon asked to leave the Academy due to his academic failings and extra-curricular activities in Chicago, and began his musical career in earnest.
Beiderbecke first recorded with his band "The Wolverine Orchestra" (usually called just The Wolverines, named for "Wolverine Blues" by Jelly Roll Morton because they played it so often) in 1924, then became a sought-after musician in Chicago, Illinois and New York City, New York. He made innovative and influential recordings with Frankie Trumbauer ("Tram") and the Jean Goldkette Orchestra. When the Goldkette Orchestra disbanded after their last recording ("In My Merry Oldsmobile"), in May 1927, Bix and Trumbauer, a 'C' Melody and alto saxophone player, briefly joined Adrian Rollini's band at the Club New Yorker, New York, before moving on to the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, the most popular and highest paid band of the day.
Beiderbecke suffered health problems from an early age, though the relentless schedule of the road and heavy drinking leading to alcoholism began to contribute to and exacerbate a decline in his health. Bix suffered from severe pain in his legs and other ill effects of prohibition era alcohol and with declining work around the New York City area, he took a turn for the worse.
Though his death certificate described the cause of death as pneumonia, and he was in seriously ill health, the circumstances immediately surrounding his death are still unclear. He died at the age of 28, in his apartment at 43-30 46th Street, Sunnyside, Queens, within the confines of the City of New York on August 6, 1931.
Ostrich Walk
Bix Beiderbecke Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Bix Beiderbecke:
'Tain't So Baby 'Tain't So Hey, people, you should come to Arkansas, Meet a friend…
A Good Man Is Hard to Find (Tupac) They say Intro/Chorus: (B-Legit) Influenced by crime…
Back In Your Own Back Yard We leave home expecting to find a blue bird, Hoping ev'ry…
Back in Your Own Back Yard 4 We leave home expecting to find a blue bird, Hoping ev'ry…
Back In Your Own Backyard We leave home expecting to find a blue bird, Hoping ev'ry…
Bessi Couldn't Help It Bessie couldn't help it, Bessie couldn't help it Bessie …
Bessie Couldnt Help It Bessie couldn't help it, Bessie couldn't help it Bessie cou…
Blue River Tell me why a song is sad Never glad Blue river Blue river D…
Changes Beautiful changes in different keys, Beautiful changes and …
Do I Hear You Saying "I Love You" Do I hear you saying, "I love you! I love…
Embraceable You Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you! Embrace me, you irrepl…
From Monday Every day was blue day, 'Til you loved me true,…
Goose Pimples Nan nan kkumi isseotjyo Beoryeojigo jjitgyeo namruhayeodo Na…
Humpty Dumpty Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great…
I Can't Give You Anything But Love Gee, but it's tough to be broke, kid. It's not a…
I'm Looking Over A 4 Leaf Clover I'm looking over a four-leaf clover I overlooked before On…
I'm More Than Satisfied A small Jean Genie snuck off to the city Strung out…
In The Good Old Summertime There's a time each year That we always hold dear Good old…
Lovable Lovable! There's no use talking, You're so lovable! When we …
Mississippi Mud When the sun goes down, the tide goes out, The…
My Heart Stood Still I took one look at you That's all I meant to…
My Pet My pet, how I love her My pet, speaking of her Say,…
Ol' Man River Ol' man river That ol' man river He don't say nothing But he…
Ol Man River Ol' man river That ol' man river He don't say nothing But…
Ramona I wander out yonder o'er the hills Where the mountains high …
River Boat Shuffle All you cotton toters, Mississippi floaters, Gather all …
Riverboat Shuffle (Remastered) All you cotton toters, Mississippi floaters, Gather all abou…
Rockin' Chair Old rockin' chair's got me, my cane by my side Fetch…
Royal Garden BGlues No use of talkin' no use of talkin' You'll start in…
Stardust And now the purple dusk of twilight time Steals across the…
Sugar When my sugar walks down the street All the little birdies…
Sunday I knew every monday Thinking over to sunday That one day tha…
Sunshine A lot of cobwebs in your head, You're getting rusty,…
Sweet Sue Every star above Knows the one I love: Sweet Sue,…
That's My Weakness Now Love, love, love, love, Look what you've done to me! The t…
There Ain't No Sweet Man 2 Shaking like a leaf on a tree That's coming loose from…
Tiger Rag Hold that tiger Hold that tiger Hold that tiger Hold that ti…
Wainting At The End Of The Road Weary of roamin' on, Yearning to see the dawn, Counting the …
When When my sugar walks down the street All the little birdies…
When My Sugar Walks Down The Street When my sugar walks down the street All the little birdies…
when my suger walks down the street When my sugar walks down the street All the little birdies…
Why Do I Love You Do I hear you saying, "I love you! I love…
You too advantage on me In the spring when the feeling was chronic And my caution…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Wayne Engle
I think Bix was at the peak of his performing when this one was made. Unbelievable! And Trumbauer works with him so well, too, as does Murray.
Dan Taylor
One of Bix/Tram's all-time best!
Judith
I was waiting for this one - what an incredible piece of music and so beautifully illustrated!
Graham Rankin
Absolutely superb from all points of view. Very many thanks.
Giovanni Rivoira
Just one word...spectacular!!!Bix solo is fantastic!!!thank you so much!!!
MookRyan
Wow - great sound, great photos!❤️
msjazzmeblues
One of Bix's great codas of all time.