GROWING UP

B  I  X

Pooooo-pee!

 TALL CORN

from the

of

IOWA

"Although the majority of its citizens might falter ..."

[NO OFFENSE TAKEN]

Sincerely, BIX BEIDERBECKE

Sincerely,

When you leap from the womb, we'll teach you how to play croquet, and how to clean bookcases, and how to write your name, and how to make mudcakes and who Bix Beiderbecke was and all about whiskey and wine and all about Eve and Adam and where to mail your letters.

            — Donald Barthelme, in a letter to his unborn daughter, 1981

leap from the womb

who Bix Beiderbecke was

He is the ideal of the Romantic jazz musician, the first one that we have, the Romantic, self-destructive musician, and you know how influential that must have been. He did a lot of damage. Bix Beiderbecke killed a lot of people.

            — Terry Teachout, in an interview with the author, 2006

the

Romantic, self-destructive musician

               OTIS FERGUSON

DOROTHY BAKER

 TALL CORN

from the

of

IOWA

SO

MUCH

ANGST!

UCH

STORY

He is the ideal of the Romantic jazz musician, the first one that we have, the Romantic, self-destructive musician, and you know how influential that must have been. He did a lot of damage. Bix Beiderbecke killed a lot of people.

            — Terry Teachout, in an interview with the author, 2006