Obituaries – Spiegle Willcox: An Appreciation
Albert Haim: In Memory of Spiegle Willcox
Spiegle Willcox passed away on Thursday, August 26, 1999, at his home in Cincinnatus, New York. He was buried at Cortland Rural Cemetery on Saturday, August 28, 1999. Spiegle was the last surviving member of the Jean Goldkette Orchestra.
Newell (“Spiegle”) Willcox was born on May 2, 1903, in Sherburne, New York. Spiegle began to play professionally in the Syracuse area just after World War I. In 1922, he was in Ithaca with “The Big Four” (really a group of eight) when Paul Whiteman discovered the band and renamed it “The Collegians”. Spiegle’s first recording was “That Red-Head Gal” (New York, March 23, 1923, Vic 19049). Spiegle stayed with the Whiteman organization until early 1925. He then returned to Cortland and joined his coal family’s firm for a short period.
During the summer of 1925, Spiegle was playing in a dance hall in Auburn’s Owasco Lake. Fred “Fuzzy” Farrar, a trumpet player for the Jean Goldkette Orchestra, was vacationing in the area and told Spiegle that Tommy Dorsey was quitting the Goldkette band and a replacement was needed. Spiegle joined the Jean Goldkette Victor Recording Orchestra in October 1925. In May 1926, Bix and Frank Trumbauer joined the Goldkette band. When Goldkette’s Victor Recording band was dismantled in 1927, Spiegle returned to the coal family business for several decades.
In the 1970s, Joe Venuti asked Spiegle to go to Europe with him to play at several venues. Thus, when he was in his seventies, at a time when most people retire to live a quiet life, Spiegle started his phenomenal second career as a professional musician. Spiegle played with jazz bands at festivals, recorded CDs (his first recording was an acoustic 78!), started singing, told stories, and cracked jokes. He made yearly appearances at the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival. His last appearance in Davenport was just a few weeks ago. After playing a number at Bix’s graveside, Spiegle turned toward Bix’s gravestone and asked:
How am I doing, Bix?
For years, Spiegle participated in several jazz festivals in Europe, where he was idolized. Just a little over a month ago, on June 30, 1999, Spiegle was a special guest with Lino Patruno & the “Red Pellini Gang” in a “Tribute to Bix Beiderbecke” at the Ascona Jazz Festival.
Spiegle was not only a great trombone player but also a gentleman and a classy individual. One example will suffice. At the last Bix Festival, Rickey Bauchelle, the daughter of Doc Ryker, was introduced to Spiegle. At the concert on Saturday morning at Bix’s graveside, Spiegle, in turn, introduced Rickey to the audience and, especially for her, reminisced about the Goldkette days with Ryker, Bix, and Tram. Clearly, Spiegle was a thoughtful and considerate man. He will be sorely missed.
Albert Haim, August 28, 1999
For an interesting article about Spiegle and an interview, go to http://newtimes.rway.com/1998/042298/cover.htm. Spiegle Willcox and Hans Eekhoff have written a fascinating and informative article entitled “Goldkette and All That Jazz” in the September 1994 issue of Storyville.
Letters of condolence may be sent to:
Cynthia Willcox
German Rd, Cincinnatus, NY 13040
When asked what people could do to show their appreciation of Spiegle, Cynthia (Spiegle’s daughter) mentioned two non-profit organizations:
The Spiegle Willcox Music Scholarship Fund
S.U.N.Y at Cortland, New York 13045The Cincinnatus Rescue Squad
Cincinnatus Fire Dept. Cincinnatus, N.Y. 13040
Hans Eekhoff (musician from the Netherlands and serious Bixophile) wrote on August 28, 1999
Spiegle will be immensely missed, but what a rich life! He was at my house only last month and we played 78’s the whole afternoon. A week later, he played with my band in Germany and I tell you he was truly great! Not just great for a 96-year-old guy but simply great. Period. Today, he’ll be buried, and in my thoughts, I’ll be there to say goodbye. It was a privilege to have known this great, gentle man.
Here is a picture of Spiegle, taken at my home on July 10th, 1999, during an afternoon of record playing. He’s holding Victor 20471 “Hoosier Sweetheart,” which he considered to be his best Goldkette recording.
Two weeks later, he played with my band at the Rheingauer Jazz Festival in Germany, and he felt fit and played great.
On July 18th, Spiegle, Cynthia, the guys in my band, and a few more German friends had a wonderful summer evening dinner on a terrace overlooking the Rhein, which I will never forget. It was the last time I saw him, but the memory of it all, having known him for 23 years (literally half my life), more than compensates for my sadness over his loss. Spiegle was one of the finest gentlemen to walk this earth, and I sincerely loved him. I thought you might like to share these inner thoughts.
Alann Krivor (grandnephew of Jean Goldkette) wrote on August 28, 1999
We’ll all miss his music, humor, and bright intelligence. Spiegle definitely gave all of us something to live for. I feel very complete that I got to share several moments of his long
life. Here’s to Spiegle……….Hip, hip, HURRAH!!!
Trevor Rippingale (jazz musician of The New Wolverine Orchestra and Bixophile par excellence) wrote on August 30, 1999
What a very gracious pair Spiegle and his devoted daughter, Cynthia. Both are role models for us all as we grow older. And what wonderful retention of personal and musical skills so late in life! trombonist, raconteur, comedian, compere, vocalist and great human being. It was a joy to be with them both at all times.
I first met them both and played with Spiegle in 1994 at “Oestrich-Winkel,”a little wine town in Germany, then subsequently at the Bix Festival, Davenport, in 1996 and 1998. Right from the first contact, he greeted us with bear hugs, and they both made us feel like close personal friends or even relatives, for which we’ll be forever grateful. On that first night we met in Germany, he said:
I was told you boys play Bix, and we just had to come and hear you.
He and Cynthia immediately joined our band party, stayed with us all through the night, and he sat in for a set with us, tromboning and singing: wonderful! It was our first direct contact with Spiegle and, through him, with Bix. We’ll treasure the audio and video tapes we have of him playing with us, as I’m sure all the other bands he graced and encouraged will also do. I’ve learnt many things from Spiegle: not only graciousness in ageing and living for music, but also musical professionalism, and particularly stagecraft and presentation skills, and to retain them all at such a high level of competence at such an age is almost unbelievable.
I remember asking Spiegle what he thought of Bix, and he said:
Trevor, Bix should have done what I did.” (What’s that, Spiegle?) “After each gig ,he should have packed his horn in his case and gone right on home!
Frank Manera (Bixophile from Rhode Island) wrote on August 31, 1999
It was a thrill meeting Spiegle on every occasion and listening to him play his trombone. He had such exuberance! He spread so much cheer! The guy actually knew Bix. He’ll be deeply missed by all Bixophiles and jazz fans alike. Spiegle has now beenreunited with the entire Goldkette Band.
Lino Patruno wrote from Italy (received August 31, 1999).
Dear Spiegle,
Now, you will ride forever in the skies of legend, together with Bix, Joe Venuti, Eddie Lang, and all the boys from the Goldkette Band.
We will remember you every time we play or listen to “My Pretty Girl”, “Idolizing”, and ” I’m Looking Over…”.
You have been one of the most beautiful and joyous realities of this less-than-happy end to the century.
We will miss you very much!
Lino Patruno
Romano Mussolini
Oscar Klein
Karl Heinz Ern
Bruno Longhi
Red Pellini Gang
Guido Pistocchi
Clive Riche
Enrico Borsetti
Giuliano Fournier
and all the Italian jazz musicians that knew and played with you.
Roma, August 30, 1999
John C. Bayer (trombone player and music teacher) wrote on September 10, 1999
In 1974, during my college years, a couple of trombonist friends and I had the wonderful opportunity to meet, visit, and play our horns for Spiegle and his late wife Helen in their Cincinnatus home. The Willcox’s were so warm and friendly. I remember Spiegle listened to us appreciatively which he followed by words of encouragement. At the time, I had little interest in jazz music, and I did not fully appreciate those moments we had with you, Spiegle. Now, as I’m much older and play mostly jazz, I thank you for those words of encouragement when I was a kid. I do keep on playing, and when I get discouraged, I listen to YOUR music, which will cheer anyone up. I am so thankful for those recordings!! Jazz certainly did “keep you young.”
Michael May (middle school band director) wrote on September 13, 1999
In March of ’96, I wrote Spiegle to tell him that the Collegians’ recording of “That Red Head Gal” was to be played at my wedding reception (my beloved Mindy is a beautiful redhead!)
He wrote back with information about his own wedding, and he answered some questions about trombones I had asked, too.He also thought it neat that someone was still listening to the Collegians! Spiegle concluded the letter by inviting me to visit him. I visited Spiegle and Cynthia the following summer, and I really enjoyed my time with them. We played trombone duets, and I asked him about his career.
Spiegle helped to solve two mysteries for me. One involved the picture of the Goldkette band, in which all of the band members are sitting on top of the bus, and bassist Steve Brown is holding a gun! Spiegle laughed when I asked him about this and told me that earlier that day, both he and Brown went to a novelty shop and bought the “guns,” which were cigarette lighters. Another mystery involved record speeds. Spiegle asked me if I knew any of his soloes. I began to play his solo on “Hoosier Sweetheart.” When I finished, he told me it was good, but it was wrong. Apparently, I had played it one half step too high! The first three notes of his solo are D, D, and A: to “get” these three notes on the original Victor record, it must be played at 77 rpm.
I enjoyed my subsequent phone conversations with Spiegle, and will miss talking with and spending time with him.
Photographs of Paul Whiteman Collegians
Bob Causer, drummer for the band
The band sitting and holding instruments
From left, seated: Roy Johnston, Charlie Dean, Bob Causer, Stub Washburn, Freddie Ballinger. From left, standing: Spiegle Willcox, Jimmy Lynch, Red Ewald.
The band sitting without instruments
From left, seated: Stub Washburn, alto sax; Bob Causer, drums; Jimmy Lynch, piano. From left, standing: Charlie Dean, banjo; Spiegle Willcox, trombone; Red Ewald, violin; Roy Johnston, trumpet; Freddie Ballinger, piano, sax and trombone.
The band standing
From left: Bob Causer, Red Ewald, Roy Johnston, Spiegle Willcox, Freddie Ballinger, Stub Washburn, Charlie Dean, and Jimmy Lynch.
I thank Enrico Borsetti for kindly sending me all the above images.