Miss Diane Bish

Who is familiar with Diane Bish?

I love 2:07 — with all the stops popping out for J.S. Bach.

And 2:24 — when she motions for the camera to focus on her feet playing the pedal board.

And she’s a lesbian!

Oh! I also love 1:33 — 1:38 showing her playing the pedal board.

Hi, R3! Always nice to hear from you!

Miss Bish is a noted lesbyterian in the organist community. Is she still alive? She had talent, though she is given to showmanship (showwomynship?) at times, that has no musical value. Here she is playing the Sinfonia to Cantata 29 (Dupre transcription). She loses the tempo for a moment, but she acquits herself pretty well.

Yes, Elle, she will be 82 on May 25.

She lived with her partner in Bloomington, Indiana for quite awhile after leaving Coral Ridge Pres.

Many people don’t realize that organists are playing with both hands and both feet. That’s a lot of notes to play!

check out this rendition, Greg

also by a lesbyterian, I'm pretty sure

immaculate and brilliant

Nice head of human hair elaborately coiffed into stiff, wig-like form.

Thanks, R9! I wish I could play even half that good!

When I first moved to South Florida, Lady Bish had a program on local TV on Sunday afternoon. It was basically footage of her from her European tours, talking about the history of organs in various churches, and then she would play a selection or two on each organ.. The ABSOLUTE BEST part of it, though, were the outfits she wore. They were obviously custom made for her, with a very swank jacket (often floor length, and bejeweled) with pants made from the same material underneath. It was a hoot to see what she came up with. I remember my roommate screaning....."Come quick, she's wearing the La-z-boy recliner again!!"

Several years later, another friend toured with her. When she did the European tours she always took a six or eight person choir with her, which expanded the repertoire she could perform on tour. She also took her "personal assistant," who was an Asian woman. They always had separate rooms and made a huge show of going off to their rooms at different times so as not to arouse suspicion. Had Coral Ridge Presbyterian known she was scissoring her way across Europe on their dime, I'm certain they would have kicked her ass to the curb.

From Wikipedia

On October 31, 2002, in Bloomington, Indiana, a fire consumed the home that Bish shared with harpist Susann McDonald. Among the many personal possessions lost were a Yamaha grand piano and Rodgers digital organ, but both women escaped without injuries.[15] Bish also lost most of her signature concert attire in the fire.[16]

Damn...when all those sequins ignited, I bet you could see that fire from outer space.

Yes, R13, that show was called “The Joy of Music.”

You can find episodes on YouTube.

She’s no Dave ‘Baby’ Cortez.

I really do love the teased out hair.

"The higher the hair, the closer to God."

She's certainly no Ethel Smith...

Oh, I have to post the whole thing, it's so glorious...

I submit to you fine persons… This…

Diane was a noted crotch watcher… She would very obviously check out crotches, even in regular conversation.

[quote] [R8], is a goddam genius!

R17, do you not agree?

How do you know she's a lesbian?

[quote] How do you know she's a lesbian?

I just do.

Well she never ate out MY snatch.

I've been loosely acquainted with her for many years, since she was the organist for FUMC in Wichita, Kansas. I once had the opportunity to visit Coral Gables, and she gave us a short demonstration of the beautiful organ, and even let me play a bit (I even got to sound the trumpet array). A great memory of a very gracious lady.

[quote] Who's her partner?

Harpist Susann McDonald.

R31 Are you sure they are still together? I know they were about a decade ago, when their home burned down

No, I am not sure of that, R32.