Bee Palmer, Bix and stuff

Subject: Bee Palmer, Bix and stuff
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 03 Jul 25 - 04:03 AM

I was watching a film about Leon Redbone on Youtube and in the end credits, it named the songwriters of Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone. THe third name on the credits was Bee Palmer.

Unlike a lot of folks on Mudcat, I'm no sort of scholar. But the name Bee Palmer first became known to me through a sizzling description of her in the book Bix remembered by Ralph Berton.
THe book is fun to read, but it is frequnently regarded as rubbish by many of the top Bixophiles. They didn't like the book - many were hot under the collar because Berton said thatBix had a gay affair with his brother - who was the drummer in the band.
Bee was vocalist around the time of the HUdson Lake engage ment. She also did a vocal interpretation Bix's top number, singing the blues.

If anyone would like to clarify my disorganised thoughts on the subject, I'd be grateful.

Subject: RE: Bee Palmer, Bix and stuff
From: The Sandman
Date: 03 Jul 25 - 04:48 AM

I prefer to listen to his music rather than make personal judgements on his private life, whether he was alcoholic or whether he was Gay, is not of importance to me when listening to his music

Subject: RE: Bee Palmer, Bix and stuff
From: gillymor
Date: 03 Jul 25 - 07:49 AM

I read the Berton book a long time ago, it was entertaining but as I recall there wasn't much of Bix in it.

Subject: RE: Bee Palmer, Bix and stuff
From: gillymor
Date: 03 Jul 25 - 08:08 AM

...I found Bix: Man and Legend by Dick Sudhalter and Phllip Evans much more informative but I can't say I remember Bee Palmer, but then my memory is spotty all around these days.

Subject: RE: Bee Palmer, Bix and stuff
From: gillymor
Date: 03 Jul 25 - 08:42 AM

Bio and some cool pix of Bee Palmer

Subject: RE: Bee Palmer, Bix and stuff
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 03 Jul 25 - 12:12 PM

I think I'm in love.

Subject: RE: Bee Palmer, Bix and stuff
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 07 Jul 25 - 11:54 PM

To be honest I think you're depriving yourself, not immersing yourself in all the gossip and legends of that era.

Such an era! amazing characters criss crossing a wild country - many of them really young men and women engaged in the adventure of a lifetime!

Subject: RE: Bee Palmer, Bix and stuff
From: gillymor
Date: 08 Jul 25 - 11:10 AM

Big Al, you'd probably enjoy Hear Me Talking to Ya by Nat Hentoff and Nat Shapiro, an anecdotal oral history of Jazz with a chapter dedicated to Bix. It was published in 1955.

Subject: RE: Bee Palmer, Bix and stuff
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 08 Jul 25 - 06:54 PM

Thankyou