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Public records list Billy Tipton as a pianist, jazz musician and saxophonist. Billy Tipton was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States on December 29, 1914. Death is recorded on January 21, 1989, at the age of 74.
My Take
Billy Tipton's story moves me more than almost any in this database. Here was a gifted Oklahoma City jazz pianist and saxophonist who led bands across decades and recorded with real conviction, yet who is remembered today largely because he was posthumously outed as a transgender man. I refuse to reduce him to that headline. What I take from his life is the sheer force of a person determined to live and play music on his own terms, against the prejudices of his era. Those two trio albums feel, to me, like quiet acts of courage worth honoring on their own musical merit.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Billy Tipton
- Name (Japanese)
- ビリー・ティプトン
- Reading
- びりー・てぃぷとん
- Born
- December 29, 1914 – January 21, 1989
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Capricorn / Tiger
- Origin
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
- Occupation
- pianist / jazz musician / saxophonist
2. Links
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy%20Tipton
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q863253
3. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-18
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Billy Tipton born?
Born December 29, 1914.
When did Billy Tipton die?
Died January 21, 1989, aged 74.
Where was Billy Tipton from?
Billy Tipton was from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States.
What did Billy Tipton do?
Billy Tipton worked as pianist, jazz musician, saxophonist.
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