A Birthday Party For Bunny

 

     100 years after the birth of Bunny Berigan, there will be a celebration honoring him and rejoicing in the beautiful music he left our world with.  Roland Bernard “Bunny” Berigan was born Nov. 2, 1908 at Hilbert, Wisconsin and died June 2, 1942 in New York, New York. Sometimes the memory of a person diminishes until he is no more, but not so with “Bunny” Berigan.  New recordings of old recordings are still being produced, trumpet players still talk about him and try to imitate his sound, and the small community of Fox Lake, Wisconsin, his childhood home, still plays homage to the man with a three day event called the Bunny Berigan Jazz Jubilee.  The Dixieland Jazz and Big Band “Swing” music is planned for May 16 – 18, 2008.

      An elegant Birthday Party in the form of a “Breakfast Brunch” is being planned for Saturday, May 17th from 10:00 to 12:00 noon at the newly decorated American Legion Clubhouse in downtown Fox Lake.  This champagne brunch is being catered by Dave Conger and desert Birthday Cakes of different flavors are being baked by the Broken Cup Coffee House.  A Bloody Mary bar will be available along with juice, coffee and milk for refreshments.  The food promises to be simply delicious and the Legion will have been turned into a fancy restaurant, complete with table cloths and decorations. 

      Featured at the Breakfast Brunch will also be background piano music provided by some of the greats of the jubilee along with author, Robert Dupuis who wrote Bunny’s biography, Bunny Berigan, Elusive Legend of Jazz.  Bob will speak about Bunny and it probably can be said that he may know more about Bunny than even Bunny’s own Mother knew.  Bob will have his book available for a cost of $20.00 and will autograph them for anyone purchasing a copy.  The Bunny Berigan Jazz Jubilee Committee will also have on display many pictures of Bunny.  Pictures that have been donated to the Fox Lake Harriett O’Connell Historical Room, found in the lower level of the Fox Lake Public Library.  It will be a truly awesome display of Bunny.

       When asked about WHY he chose to write the biography of Bunny,  Bob Dupuis responded “It’s a pretty simple story.  I began playing trumpet in junior high school, inspired by a soloist I saw with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.  I gravitated to jazz and began listening to the greats of the ‘30s and ‘40s, especially the trumpeters.  I played in our high school concert band, stage band, and a little dance band outside of school, but I was a much better listener than I was a player.  We were all jazz fans and every trumpeter adored Bunny.  I wore out my first copy of his recording of “I Can’t Get Started”.

       Bob went on to say “My tastes expanded, but I continued to appreciate Bunny’s playing.  I kept waiting for someone to write his biography because I wanted to know more about him.  I waited and waited, but it did not happen.  When I retired as a teacher and school principal I made a promise to myself and everyone who would listen, that I would write the biography of Bunny Berigan.”

        Bob found his new focus to be quite a task.  It is not easy to write about a man who has been dead for 40 years and Bob found himself in Fox Lake and other places, talking to people who remembered Bunny.  As he stated “It was, and is, a wonderful experience.”  They say that a man is not truly dead until no one remembers him any longer.  Thanks to Robert Dupuis the world will continue to know the great Bunny Berigan.

        The cost of attending this extra-special Birthday Party is $25.00 per person.  Reservations do need to be made ahead of time and one can call Joan Carlin at 920-928-2220 or Julie Flemming at 920-928-6094.  Email reservations will also be taken addressed to julieflemming@yahoo.com.