Billy Tipton
Tipton at the piano
Background information
Birth name	Dorothy Lucille Tipton
Born	December 29, 1914 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Died	January 21, 1989 Spokane, Washington
Genre(s)	Jazz, Swing
Occupation(s)	Performer, Talent agent
Instrument(s)	Piano, Saxophone
Years active	1936-1970
Label(s)	Tops Records
Associated acts	Billy Tipton Trio

Billy Lee Tipton (December 29, 1914 - January 21, 1989) was a United States jazz pianist and saxophonist. Image File history File links Tipton_portrait. ... December 29 is the 363rd day of the year (364th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 2 days remaining. ... 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Nickname: Capital of the New Century, O-K-C, O-City, O-C Location in Oklahoma County and the state of Oklahoma. ... January 21 is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the city, see Spokane, Washington For the county, see Spokane County, Washington For the Native American tribe, see Spokane (people) or Spokane Indian Reservation For the movie, see Spokane (2004) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same... “Washington State” redirects here. ... A music genre is a category (or genre) of pieces of music that share a certain style or basic musical language (van der Merwe 1989, p. ... Jazz is a style of music which originated in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States at around the start of the 20th century. ... Look up swing in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The performing arts include theater, motion pictures, drama, comedy, music, dance, opera, magic and the marching arts, such as brass bands, etc. ... This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... A short grand piano, with the top up. ... The saxophone (colloquially referred to as sax) is a conical-bored instrument of the woodwind family, usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece like the clarinet. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... December 29 is the 363rd day of the year (364th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 2 days remaining. ... 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... January 21 is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jazz is a style of music which originated in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States at around the start of the 20th century. ... Pianist Claudio Arrau, Carnegie Hall, 1954. ... A saxophonist is a musician who plays the saxophone. ...

Early life

Tipton was born as Dorothy Lucille Tipton in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. She grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, where she was raised by an aunt after her parents' divorce. After the divorce, she rarely saw her father, G.W. Tipton, a pilot who sometimes took her for airplane rides. As a high school student, Tipton became interested in music, especially jazz. She went by the nickname "Tippy." She studied piano and saxophone, but school policies forbade girls to play in the school band, until Tipton returned for a senior year in Oklahoma and finally joined a band there.^[1] Nickname: Capital of the New Century, O-K-C, O-City, O-C Location in Oklahoma County and the state of Oklahoma. ... Nickname: City of Fountains or Heart of America Location in Jackson, Clay, Platte, and Cass Counties in the state of Missouri. ... Jazz is a style of music which originated in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States at around the start of the 20th century. ... A short grand piano, with the top up. ... The saxophone (colloquially referred to as sax) is a conical-bored instrument of the woodwind family, usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece like the clarinet. ...

Early career

In 1933, Tipton began dressing like a man, which allowed her to blend with the other members of the jazz bands she played with in small Oklahoma bars. As she began a more serious music career, she decided to adopt a male persona, calling herself by her father's nickname, Billy, and presenting herself consistently as male. She had a face which could easily pass as male, so she could bind her breasts and pad her pants to create a believable illusion of masculinity. The change to life as a man made it possible for Tipton to continue a career in jazz, where opportunities for women were more limited. At first, she was male only in her public persona, but by 1940 she was presenting herself as male both publicly and privately^[1]. Official language(s) None Capital Oklahoma City Largest city Oklahoma City Area  Ranked 20th  - Total 69,960 sq mi (181,196 km²)  - Width 230 miles (370 km)  - Length 298 miles (480 km)  - % water 1. ...

Tipton gradually gained success and recognition as a musician. In 1936, he was the leader of a band playing on KFXR. In 1938, he joined Louvenie’s Western Swingbillies, a band which played on KTOK and at Brown's Tavern. In 1940 Tipton was travelling around the Midwest playing at dances with Scott Cameron's band. In 1941 he began two and a half years playing at Joplin, Missouri's Cotton Club with George Mayer's band, then toured for a time with Ross Carlyle, then played for two years in Texas^[1]. 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... The Midwest is a common name for a region of the United States of America. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... Joplin is a city located in parts of southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of Missouri. ... Official language(s) English (de facto) See also languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (261,797 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ...

In 1949, Tipton began touring the Pacific Northwest with George Mayer. While this tour was far from glamorous, the band's appearances at Roseburg, Oregon's Shalimar Room were recorded by a local radio station, and so recordings exist of Tipton's work during this time, including "If I Knew Then," and "Sophisticated Swing"^[1]. The trio's signature song was "Flying Home," performed in a close imitation of Benny Goodman's band. The Pacific Northwest from space This page is about the region that includes parts of Canada and the US. For the US only region, see Northwestern United States The Pacific Northwest, abbreviated PNW, or PacNW is a region in the northwest of North America. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Flying Home is a 12-bar blues jazz composition most often associated with Lionel Hampton. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

As George Mayer's band became more successful, they began getting more prestigious work, performing with The Ink Spots, the Delta Rhythm Boys, and Billy Eckstine at the Boulevard Club in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho^[1]. The Ink Spots were a popular American vocal group that helped define the musical genre that led to rhythm & blues and rock and roll, and the subgenre doo-wop. ... Billy Eckstine (8 July 1914 – 8 March 1993), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as William Clarence Eckstein. ... Coeur dAlene (IPA: ) is the county seat and largest city of Kootenai County, IdahoGR6. ...

Later career

The cover of the Billy Tipton Trio album "Billy Tipton Plays Hi-Fi on Piano"

Tipton began playing piano alone at the Elks club in Longview, Washington. In Longview, he started the Billy Tipton Trio, which consisted of Tipton on piano, Dick O'Neil on drums, and Kenny Richards (and later Ron Kilde) on bass. The trio grew more successful locally, until a talent scout from Tops Records heard them play at King's Supper Club, in Santa Barbara, California. Richards later said that he had no idea that Tipton was anything other than male. With Tops Records, the Billy Tipton Trio recorded two albums, "Sweet Georgia Brown" and "Billy Tipton Plays Hi-Fi on Piano," both released early in 1957. The albums were Tipton versions of standards including "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man," "Willow Weep for Me," "What'll I Do," and "Don't Blame Me". In 1957, the albums sold 17,678 copies^[1][2]. Image File history File links Tipton_Plays_HI-Fi. ... Image File history File links Tipton_Plays_HI-Fi. ... Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks had modest beginnings in 1868 as a drinking club (then called the Jolly Corks) established as a private club to elude New York City laws governing the opening hours of public taverns. ... Longview is a city in Cowlitz County, Washington, United States. ... Santa Barbara is a city in California, United States. ... Cant Help Lovin Dat Man, music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, is one of the most famous songs from their classic 1927 musical play Show Boat, adapted from Edna Ferbers novel. ... Whatll I Do is the name of a song written by Irving Berlin in 1923. ...

After the albums' success, the Billy Tipton Trio was offered a position as house band at the Holiday Hotel, in Reno, Nevada. Tipton declined the offer to go to Reno, and also ignored an offer from Tops Records to record four more albums. He moved instead to Spokane, Washington, working as a talent broker and playing with his trio every week at Allen's Tin Pan Alley. He played mainly swing standards, and not the jazz he preferred, but occasionally worked a little jazz into the performances. His performances included skits in which, in the vaudeville tradition, he imitated celebrities like Liberace and Elvis Presley. In some of these sketches, he played a little girl, and though he never impersonated an adult woman, he did make jokes about homosexuality^[1]. City nickname: The Biggest Little City in the World Founded May 13, 1868 County Washoe County Mayor Bob Cashell Area  - Total  - Land  - Water 179. ... Nickname: The Lilac City Location of Spokane in Spokane County and Washington Coordinates: Country United States State Washington County Spokane  - Mayor Dennis P. Hession Area    - City  58. ... Vaudeville is a style of multi-act theatre which flourished in North America from the 1880s through the 1920s. ... Liberace shows off his rings (circa 1980). ... Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), often known simply as Elvis and also called The King of Rock n Roll or simply The King, was an American singer, musician and actor. ...

He finished his career in Spokane, his trio playing as the house band at Allen's Tin Pan Alley as he mentored young musicians at the Dave Sobol Theatrical Agency. Billy Tipton retired from music in the 1970's, when he found it difficult to play piano with increasing arthritis. For the city, see Spokane, Washington For the county, see Spokane County, Washington For the Native American tribe, see Spokane (people) or Spokane Indian Reservation For the movie, see Spokane (2004) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same...

Family life

Early in her career, Tipton cross-dressed only professionally, and still lived in her private life as a woman. She spent those early years living with a woman named Non Earl Harrell, in a relationship which other musicians recognized as lesbian. The relationship ended in 1942^[3][4]. This articles is about cross-dressing in general, that is the act of wearing the clothing of another gender for any reason. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ...

Tipton's next relationship, with a singer named June, lasted for several years^[4].

For seven years, Tipton lived with Betty Cox, who was 19 years old when they became involved. According to Betty, they had a normal heterosexual relationship which included sex. He kept the secret of his biological sex by telling Betty that he had been in a serious car accident which required him to bind his chest to protect broken ribs, and which had badly damaged his genitals. This is the story he would also tell subsequent women with whom he was involved. Betty was not faithful to Tipton, but was fond of him nonetheless, and remembered him as "the most fantastic love of my life^[5]." Heterosexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by esthetic attraction, romantic love or sexual desire exclusively for members of the opposite sex or gender, contrasted with homosexuality and distinguished from bisexuality and asexuality. ...

After Betty ended their relationship, he quickly became involved with Maryann Catanach, a prostitute. According to Maryann, theirs was a normal sexual relationship, and she did not know that Tipton was biologically female, since he dressed in private, had sex only in the dark, and preferred to touch, not to be touched^[4]. Prostitution is the sale of sexual services (typically manual stimulation, oral sex, sexual intercourse, or anal sex) for cash or other kind of return, generally indiscriminately with many persons. ...

Two of Tipton's female cousins were the only ones who privy to both sides of her life, and she kept in contact with them for years.

In 1960, he ended a relationship with a prostitute to be married to nightclub dancer and stripper Kitty Kelly (later Oakes), who was known professionally as "The Irish Venus". Tipton was never legally married, but several women had drivers' licenses identifying them as Mrs. Tipton. Kitty said that they never had sex, but had an otherwise normal life. They were involved with their local PTA and with the Boy Scouts. They adopted three sons, John, Scott, and William. Although Kitty denied having any knowledge that she was married to a woman, John and Scott did not believe her. William described Tipton as a good father who loved to go on Scout camping trips^[2]. 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... PTA may refer to: Parent-Teacher Association, a voluntary organisation bringing together parents and teachers plasma thromboplastin antecedent, another name for Factor XI Preferential Trade Arrangement This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... For professional sport scouts, see Scout (sport). ...

Tipton and Kitty's sons became difficult to manage during their adolescence. Because of the couple's ongoing arguments over how they should raise the boys, Tipton left Kitty, moved into a mobile home with their sons, and resumed his old relationship with Maryann. He remained there until his death a year later.^[4]. American high school students Adolescence (Latin adolescentia, from adolescere, to grow up) is the period of psychological, social, and physical transition between childhood and adulthood (gender-specific, manhood or womanhood). ... A modern double-wide manufactured home. ...

Death and its aftermath

As Tipton's career ended, Tipton finished his life living in poverty in a mobile home park. In 1989, at the age of 74, he believed that he was suffering the effects of emphysema and refused to call a doctor. What he was really suffering from was a hemorrhaging ulcer, which, untreated, was fatal. It was while paramedics were trying to save Tipton's life that his watching son, William, learned for the first time that his father was biologically female, a secret which the coroner soon revealed to his family. 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Endoscopic images of a duodenal ulcer. ... A coroner is either the presiding officer of a special court, a medical officer or an officer of law responsible for investigating deaths, particularly those happening under unusual circumstances. ...

Tipton was pronounced dead at Valley General Hospital, and Kitty arranged for his body to be cremated in an attempt to keep Billy's secret. But one of Billy's sons gave an interview, and the story was seized upon by the media, who eagerly told the story despite Kitty's objections. The first newspaper article was published the day after Tipton's funeral, and was quickly picked up by wire services. There were rumors of a movie biography, and stories about Tipton appeared in a variety of papers including tabloids like National Enquirer and Star, and more serious papers like New York Magazine and The Seattle Times. Tipton's family made talk-show appearances^[6]. Cremation is the practice of disposing of a corpse by burning. ... In journalism, news agencies are bodies established to supply news reports to newspapers, magazines, and radio and television broadcasters. ... The National Enquirer is a national American supermarket tabloid. ... Star Magazine is a magazine specializing in celebrity gossip and scandals. ... Headquarters New York magazine is a weekly magazine, founded in 1968, concerned with the life, culture, politics, and style of New York City. ... The Seattle Times is the leading daily newspaper in Seattle, Washington, United States. ...

The family was split by disagreements after Tipton's death, and Tipton's remains were divided in two parts, half for Kitty and William, and half for John and Scott. In his will, Tipton left most of his belongings to William, and a dollar each to John and Scott^[7].

Allusions

• The 1991 song "Tipton" by folksinger Phranc is a tribute to Billy Tipton.
• The Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet is a successful all-woman music group from the United States, and named in tribute to Billy Tipton. More recently they changed the name of the group to just The Tiptons.
• "Stevie Wants to Play the Blues" was a play based on Tipton's life by Eduardo Machado performed in Los Angeles.
• "The Slow Drag" was a play based on Tipton's life by Carson Kreitzer performed in New York City and London.
• An opera based on Tipton's life, "Billy," was staged in Olympia, Washington.
• Trumpet, a novel based on Tipton's life, is by Jackie Kay.
• "The Opposite Sex is Neither," a theatrical review by Kate Bornstein, features Billy Tipton.

1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Phranc Phranc (born Susan Gottlieb in 1958) is an influential singer-songwriter from California whose career has spanned several decades. ... Experimental jazz outfit the Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet originally comprised saxophonists Amy Denio, Jessica Lurie, Marjorie DeMuynck, and Barbara J. Marino in collaboration with drummer Will Dowd. ... The Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet (now known as The Tiptons Sax Quartet) is an all-female, jazz saxophone quartet from Seattle, Washington. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... Nickname: Big Apple, Gotham, NYC, City That Never Sleeps, The Concrete Jungle, The City So Nice They Named It Twice Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs The Bronx Brooklyn Manhattan Queens Staten Island Settled 1676 Government  - Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Coordinates: County Thurston County Incorporated January 28, 1859  - Mayor Mark Foutch Area    - City 48. ... The poet and writer Jackie Kay was born in Edinburgh in 1961 to a Scottish mother and a Nigerian father. ...

Discography

• Sweet Georgia Brown (1957)
• Billy Tipton Plays Hi-Fi on Piano (1957)

Biography

• Middlebrook, Diane Wood (1998). Suits Me: The Double Life of Billy Tipton. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0-395-65489-0. 

Footnotes

2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

External links

• Billy Tipton photo timeline
• Music from both Billy Tipton Trio albums
• Excerpt from biography by Diane Middlebrook