| Announcements |
| Betty Bell-Smith January 2005 By Jean & Paul Huling The traditional jazz world lost a wonderful lady just before Thanksgiving. Betty Miquelon Bell-Smith was not a performer although occasionally she could be cajoled into singing “How Could Red Riding Hood?” Instead, Betty’s glory came from her promotion of Jazz and Ragtime, and her diligent work ensuring that the music continues. We first met Betty and Pel, her fiancé, 25 years ago in June at the St. Louis Ragtime Festival held on the showboat ‘Goldenrod’. We met again in October in Toronto at the Ragtime Society’s ’Bash’; they greeted us warmly as old friends. When founded EARLJAS, they gave us encouragement and advice. They often attended the EARLYJAS Festival. After the Toronto Ragtime Society disbanded, Betty and Pel started their own group, The Grand International Ragtime- Jazztime Foundation (TGIRJF). They began offering festivals each May and October in Alexandria Bay, NY. Always, along with jazz bands, they included ragtime pianists, usually with someone from Europe. When I told Betty how much I appreciated the inclusion of the European musicians, she answered: “Well, isn’t it all the same kind of music anyway? Of course they should be included.” When Pel died, Betty turned the reins of TGIRJF over to the capable hands of Wayne and Nancy Pauli, but she attended festivals until ill health forced her to stop. We’ll miss you Betty! |