Yesterday, after the storms went away and the sun came out, I went out for a long run. My route took me about a mile from my home, through the Duck Creek area, and back around to another street that went past a cemetery. I didn't set out to visit this cemetery. The particular stretch of road doesn't have a sidewalk, so, not wanting to feel like I was invading someone's yard space, I took a detour into the Oakdale Memorial Gardens. This is a lovely cemetery, with large trees, pretty landscaping, a small pond, and some pleasant hilly terrain. It is also the resting place of Davenport's hometown hero, the jazz cornetist, Bix Beiderbecke (and his family).
To find his grave, you walk up a hill, on top of which is a smallish mausoleum, continue past the large monument of the family of Davenports, and on the left you'll see a large monument with the Beiderbecke name. Surrounding this block, you'll find the family markers. Leon Bismarck "Bix" Beiderbecke is marked with the same inconspicuous marker as the rest of his family. His dates are March 10, 1903 - August 6, 1931. He was 28 when he died, probably of pneumonia, exacerbated by too much Prohibition gin and the late, long hours of a musician. His life is undoubtedly over-romanticised to a degree, but he still left a tremendous legacy and influenced countless musicians in the jazz community, American and worldwide.
Bix wasn't a war hero, like some of the residents of this cemetary, or the reason for this Memorial Day holiday, but he is a hero to jazz musicians all over the world. Were I religious, I would have said a prayer for this great jazz man, but instead I just quietly stood at his grave, thinking about how he had a hand in shaping our great American artform: jazz.
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