BIX JAZZ FESTIVAL HISTORY
The Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Society was founded in 1971, in Bix’s hometown of Davenport, Iowa, to help keep alive the memory and musical accomplishments of native son, Bix, cornetist, pianist and composer.
The catalyst for formation of the Bix Society came in 1971 when Bill Donahoe’s Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Band of New Jersey travelled to Davenport to visit Bix’s boyhood home, sites where he’d played, and to pay musical tribute over his grave in Oakdale Memorial Park.
They also played a jam session at the then Davenport Holiday Inn. Hundreds overflowed the jam session site. Davenport musician Don O’Dette and others were so impressed with the turnout that they soon formed the nonprofit Bix Society, with O’Dette as its first president. Today the Bix Jazz Festival is known worldwide, and has attracted many celebrity performers and jazz buffs of all ages.
Each year the festival draws fans from throughout the U.S., and even foreign countries where Bix is known and revered as a jazz legend.
The Bix Lives Award
Through a collaboration between Bix Beiderbecke Jazz Society and the Bix Beiderbecke Museum and Archive, this award is bestowed upon a person or group that has shown a concentrated effort in promoting, preserving, and presenting the musical genius of Bix Beiderbecke, someone who has created a greater understanding of Bix’s contribution to American Music Culture, or a person or group which over the years has proven to be an advocate for Bix’s legacy by their efforts in learning about and promoting the history of Bix’s life.
- 2007 – Rich Johnson
- 2008 – Phil Evans
- 2009 – Jean Pierre Lion
- 2011 – Billy Barnes – Bill Donahoe
- 2012 – Howard Braren
- 2013 – Gerry Bowers
- 2014 – Dr. Albert Haim
- 2015 – Dick Hyman
- 2016 – Randy Sandke
- 2017 – Joe and Laura Hesse
- 2018 – Al Van Tieghem
- 2019 – Ray and Muriel Voss
- 2020 – Josh Duffee and Carol Schaefer
- 2021 – Jim Petersen
- 2022 – Vince Giordano
- 2023 – Steve Trainor
- 2024 – Andy Schumm
- 2025 – Phil Pospychala
Bix Beiderbecke Biography
Leon Bismarck “Bix” Beiderbecke was born on Tuesday evening March 10, 1903, the son of Bismark Herman and Agnes Jane (Aggie, Agatha Hilton) Beiderbecke. He lived at 1934 Grand Ave., Davenport, Iowa. His father was Manager of the East Davenport Lumber and Coal Company. His mother was a musician who played piano; she also was the organist for The First Presbyterian Church. Bix had one older brother Charles Brunette (Burnie) and one sister Mary Louise (Sis).
Bix started kindergarten in 1909 at Tyler School, formerly known as #9. His school records show the name Bismarck; he attended there thru 8th grade. The school was across the street from his house, but it is now a public park. He attended Davenport High School in 1918 until 1920. In September 1921, he was enrolled in Lake Forest Academy, and later expelled on May 21, 1922.
His first gig was in 1921 at Hayne’s Dancing School under his own name, The Beiderbecke Five.
After leaving Lake Forest, he played with several bands around Chicago and Davenport, joining the Wolverine Orchestra in 1924. When he was just 24, Bix was making more than $200 a week, which was quite a princely sum in the 1920s. In October 1924 Bix leaves The Wolverines and joins The Jean Goldkette Orchestra. He comes home in 1925 and briefly attends the University of Iowa, February 2-20. He returns to play with Jean Goldkette. In October 1927, Bix joins Paul Whiteman. The Whiteman Orchestra, who had its own train, was on national radio, and played every major concert hall in the USA, including Carnegie Hall where Bix played his own composition “In A Mist.” Bix continued with Whiteman until September 1929.
Bix started kindergarten in 1909 at Tyler School, formerly known as #9. His school records show the name Bismarck; he attended there thru 8th grade. The school was across the street from his house, but it is now a public park. He attended Davenport High School in 1918 until 1920. In September 1921, he was enrolled in Lake Forest Academy, and later expelled on May 21, 1922.
His first gig was in 1921 at Hayne’s Dancing School under his own name, The Beiderbecke Five.
After leaving Lake Forest, he played with several bands around Chicago and Davenport, joining the Wolverine Orchestra in 1924. When he was just 24, Bix was making more than $200 a week, which was quite a princely sum in the 1920s. In October 1924 Bix leaves The Wolverines and joins The Jean Goldkette Orchestra. He comes home in 1925 and briefly attends the University of Iowa, February 2-20. He returns to play with Jean Goldkette. In October 1927, Bix joins Paul Whiteman. The Whiteman Orchestra, who had its own train, was on national radio, and played every major concert hall in the USA, including Carnegie Hall where Bix played his own composition “In A Mist.” Bix continued with Whiteman until September 1929.
Bix was a genius, a jazz pioneer according to his peers and music historians. He wrote the compositions In A Mist, Candlelights, In The Dark and Flashes, as well as Davenport Blues.
Bix was known as the ultimate gentleman and in those days it wasn’t considered proper to turn down a favor, including someone buying him a drink. He eventually became dependent on alcohol, a disease which contributed to Lobar Pneumonia and his death on Thursday August 6, 1931 at 9:30 pm at the age of 28 in his Queens, New York apartment. His mother and brother Bernie were on their way to NYC but arrived too late. His body was returned to Davenport with services on August 11, 1931 at Hill & Frederick’s Funeral Home, and burial at Oakdale Cemetery, 25th & Eastern Ave. The Beiderbecke’s family piano and cornet may be seen at the Putnam Museum and Science Center in Davenport at 12th & Division streets.
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