Bix Beiderbecke

The Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Society was founded in 1972, in Bix's hometown of Davenport, Iowa, to help keep alive the memory and musical accomplishments of native son, Bix, cornetist, pianist and composer.

Its first Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival, was held that same year. In July of 2004, jazz bands from all over the U.S. helped the Society celebrate its 33rd festival.

Each year the festival, fondly referred to by many as the "Bix Bash," draws thousands of fans from throughout the U.S., and even foreign countries where Bix is known and revered as a jazz legend.

Davenport, Iowa, on the banks of the Mississippi River, is part of the Quad-Cities, a metropolitan complex of about 350,000, with ample hotels, motels, and venue sites, as well as air transportation. The area goes all out to make visitors feel welcome.

All four venues, including the only outdoor one, LeClaire Park, on the river's banks, are in Davenport, all easily available. There are always at least nine bands alternating between various venues, and concert prices are extremely reasonable.

The catalyst for formation of the Bix Society came in 1971 when Bill Donahoe's, Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Band of New Jersey traveled 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 Davenport Holiday Inn (now the Clarion 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 non-profit 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.

Today, as always, all board members and volunteers donate their time and energies to make the Bix Bash ever bigger and better. Board members see the Society's goals, in addition to paying tribute to the genius of Bix, as including educating young people to the traditions of jazz through lectures and seminars, and by actually learning and playing the music.

The Bix Beiderbecke Youth Band, made up of young musicians selected from many area high schools, has drawn raves from all who hear it.

We also hope to be involved in the Quad Cities new River Music Experience, a new facility about to open and dedicated to American roots music.  This facility should provide us with a venue to present our music to the general public.  We urge you to visit the River Music Experience during this year's festival. 

If you share our belief that jazz is a national treasure and should be preserved, please help us achieve these goals.  For more information call the Bix office  563-324-7170 or contact us here.