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.
When
Bix Beiderbecke Lyrics
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All the little birdies go tweet, tweet, tweet.
And in the evening when the sun goes down
It's never dark when she's around
She's so affectionate and I'll say this
That when she kisses me I sure stay kissed
When my sugar walks down the street
The lyrics to Bix Beiderbecke and Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra's "Sugar" suggest an almost childlike enchantment with the subject's lover. The opening line describes the effect that the lover's mere presence has on the natural world, as the "little birdies" chirp in response to her walking down the street. The singer goes on to describe how her presence also lights up his world, even in the evening when the sun goes down. He's enamored with her affection and the way she kisses him, conveying that her simple existence brings so much joy into his life. The lyrics overall paint a picture of a carefree, joyful romance.
It's also interesting to note that this song was released in 1927, during the height of the Jazz Age. This time period was characterized by a cultural obsession with jazz, flappers, and the carefree lifestyle that accompanied them. "Sugar" embodies the spirit of this time period, with its joyful lyrics and up-tempo jazz instrumentation. Additionally, the song is notable for being one of Bix Beiderbecke's most well-known recordings. Beiderbecke was a jazz cornet player and pianist who was popular during the 1920s and is still considered a major influence on the genre today.
Line by Line Meaning
When my sugar walks down the street
Whenever my beloved walks along the streets, all the birds in the sky start singing happily.
All the little birdies go tweet, tweet, tweet.
The happy birds chirp and tweet to greet my beloved as she strolls by.
And in the evening when the sun goes down
In the calm of the evening, when the sun sets lower and lower,
It's never dark when she's around
She brings light and brightness to my life whenever she is with me.
She's so affectionate and I'll say this
I can confidently say that she is one of the most loving people that I have ever met.
That when she kisses me I sure stay kissed
Whenever she gives me a sweet and passionate kiss, its effects linger on my lips for a long time.
When my sugar walks down the street
Whenever my beloved walks by, the birds of the neighborhood start chirping once again.
The little birdies go tweet tweet tweet.
The joyful birds continue to tweet and chirp as she keeps walking by, spreading her charm and grace.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Gene Austin, Jimmy McHugh, Irving Mills
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chippie Baker
Wonderful 'Bix' - never forgotten !!
Stephen Whittle
Good spirits and broad smiles go hand in hand with Bix's music. Only 28 years old? Far, far too soon to leave the stage. :-(
John Svensen
Well done Donald, thank you.
Wayne Bennett
Thank you very much for posting this. I love it!
Wayne Bennett
I just love 20s music. I played in a jazz/swing band (drums) many years ago, and there's nothing like the raw energy of 20s songs, in my opinion. Bix is one of my favorites. I used to have a bookmark for another Bix music collection on youtube that I loved, but I lost the bookmark and haven't been able to find the video since. Your video is the only thing I've been able to find so far that's like it. Thanks again!
Donald HerbertHolmes
Thankyou so much for listening and commenting!
León Blum
MUCHAS GRACIAS POR SUBIR A ÉSTOS GENIALES INTÉRPRETES.-SALU2 DESDE''ARGENTINA''.-
Emily Cat176
Love this music:)
Manuel Campos
I had all his cd’s. Gave them to my older son.
Paolo Angioni
Intramontabile questa splendida musica! Grandissimo Bix!