[Dixielandjazz] Richard Sudhalter

[M J (Mike) Logsdon]

The controversy.

I am not a spokesman for this, no way.  But I have some knowledge, at 
least some of which is public, and I'll attempt to relate it here.

My take on it is that Phil Evans submitted his manuscript, much as we 
know it today in its 1998 iteration, and the publisher, who wanted a 
more narrative style (Phil's is more a chronicle than a biography, per 
se), and hired Dick to "co-write" it.  That meant "re-write" it, and I'm 
fairly certain not too much of this was made privy to Phil until 
contracts had been signed, etc.  End of the story is that Dick did what 
he did, and, with no aspersions cast in either direction, I'm told by 
people intitmate with the Evans's that Dick's re-write was not ran by 
Phil in the detail it needed to be, and a disagreement erupted between 
Phil, the publisher, and, by default, Dick.  The final result is the 
1974 bio we all know so well (and which I know all too well, as it was 
how I came to love Bix).

And now the following is personal, so I need no permission to divulge it:

In February 2002 I visited Linda Evans, well after Phil's passing, and 
we discussed the subsequent controversy related to Phil's own 1998 bio. 
  Apparently certain parts of it were accused of being "lifted" from 
Dick's own work (possibly "Lost Chords", I'm not sure).  I just know 
there was an accusation of plagiarism on Phil's part.  Litigation went 
back and forth, Phil's health couldn't withstand, and he died.  After 
discussing this with Linda, and the conversation went quiet, she at one 
point quite clearly and pointedly looked at me and said, "They killed my 
husband."

A picture or two was taken with me and Linda (by a friend I was with and 
who can corroborate my story), and off we went.

This is not meant as a condemnation of a dead man.  I appreciated Mr 
Sudhalter to no end, and still cherish my re-bound Evans-Sudhalter bio 
to no end.  I just know what I've learned (and an infinitude of what I 
haven't told here, for reasons given), and thought I'd shed at least 
some light.

God rest Phil Evans, and God rest Dick Sudhalter.  I have a hunch, in 
true heavenly fashion, the two of them are sitting at a table, a drink 
in front of each, and in Grant-Lee fashion, are exchanging pleasantries. 
  The only difference being that in this scenario, I half suspect 
they'll join hands and head off to hear some good heavenly jazz.