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 1970's, 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 CD's (his first recording was an acoustic 78!), started singing, told stories, cracked jokes. Hemade 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 grave stone 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 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.
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 1970's, 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 CD's (his first recording was an acoustic 78!), started singing, told stories, cracked jokes. Hemade 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 grave stone 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 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.
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