Bix Vigil – 2003

The 2003 Bix vigil in Sunnyside, NY was the most successful. On August 6, 2000, only two persons attended the vigil: Joe Giordano and I. On August 9, 2003, there were close to 100 people! All this success is associated with the excellent organizing abilities of Paul Maringelli. The audience was made up of people from the neighborhood, individuals associated with various civic and political organizations, and Bixophiles some coming from as far away as New Jersey, upstate New York, and Eastern Long Island.

The official hours were 7 to 9:30 pm. However, by 6:30 pm people started drifting into the church courtyard adjacent to 43-60 46th Street, the apartment building where Bix spent the last few weeks of his life. The side of the building can be seen from anywhere in the courtyard. This includes the windows in the corridor that leads to the apartment that Bix occupied for those few weeks. As soon as Tony set up the public address system, Bix’s records were played. The first was “The Jazz Me Blues” and it was followed by “At the Jazz Band Ball.” I found it quite emotional to listen to Bix’s extraordinary cornet sound and look at the windows of the corridor that Bix must have walked so many times and think of Bix, in poor health, slowly waning, alone.

By 7 pm a large crowd had gathered (nearly 70 people) and Paul opened the proceedings. A series of short speeches were made by several representatives of organizations and individuals that supported the event, The Kiwanis Club of Sunnyside, a member of the staff of Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, Bob Singleton of the Greater Astoria Historical Society, and Councilman Eric Gioia. As time went by, more and more people came in and by 7:15, I estimate that the audience was close to 100 people strong.

Then Paul introduced the keynote speaker, Martin McQuade, Video and Music Archivist, Film Historian, and Bing Crosby specialist. The theme of his address was the relation between Bing and Bix. Martin read several excerpts of Bing’s comments about Bix. Perhaps the most interesting of the readings was a statement by Bing in which he states that he tried to sing like Bix played cornet. Martin then played and commented about five of the Paul Whiteman recordings that Bix and Bing made together, “Changes,” “From Monday On,” “You Took Advantage of Me,” Oh, Miss Hannah,: and “Waiting At the End of the Road.” An excellent selection of Bix ’n’ Bing.

Paul called me to the microphone and I started by providing a short account of the Bix vigils, beginning in 1999 as a small gathering –organized by Mike Heckman and I- of fans outside of Bix’s apartment building. I followed with some remarks about the worldwide importance of Bix by mentioning the Ascona Jazz Festival in Switzerland [the title of the festival for 2003 was “Bixology”] and the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival in Davenport last July. Both of these festivals were attended by over 10,000 people. I briefly mentioned the fact that Bix had been inducted into the International Jazz Hall of Fame in 1997 and that two of Bix’s recordings –“Singin’ the Blues” and “In A Mist”- had received Grammy Hall of Fame Awards in 1977 and 1980, respectively. Finally, I mentioned that the house where Bix was born, 1924 Grand Avenue, Davenport, Iowa was entered in the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

Then a small jazz combo –keyboard, trumpet, saxophone, string bass and Paul on drums played several selections such as My Blue Heaven, Blue Skies, Back Home in Indiana, etc. At about 8:30, Paul unveiled the commemorative plaque that had been placed on a stand. It is a magnificent object [image to be uploaded] to be mounted on the front wall of the building at 43-60 46th Street, Bix’s last place of residence. The text was suggested by Mike Heckman.

At 8:45 pm, the band stopped playing and the audience moved from the courtyard to the front of Bix’s apartment building. Candles were lit and Bix’s recording of “I’ll Be A Friend With Pleasure” was played. A simple, yet effective way of remembering Bix, who died 72 years ago in the building; a fitting homage to a modest genius.