For the majority of his life, Billy Tipton was a successful jazz musician in the USA.

He was also very much the family man. He had a number of long-term relationships with women and fostered three sons with one of them.

But as his life went on, it all began to unravel. He separated from his wife and struggled to make a living. At the time of his death he was living in a trailer park.

But there was one thing he did manage to hold on to right up to his death in 1989. Billy had a secret that he kept from everyone. He was, biologically, a woman.

None of his wives or sons knew. Nor did his work mates or friends. He told no one during his lifetime and left no letters or other documents of explanation.

Consequently, there has been much speculation around issues such as his motives and his self-perception. For example, it has been suggested that he began to dress in male attire in order to break into the male-dominated jazz industry in the 30s.

One writer has suggested that he only dressed in male attire during stage performances. At other times he dressed in female attire and lived in a lesbian relationship.

But this period was relatively short-lived apparently and he soon began dressing as a man full-time. This included the strapping down of breasts and wearing a male prosthesis. He also began having relationships with women as a man.

He had no surgical or other medical intervention, although this was clearly unnecessary in terms of how others perceived him. For example, Billy Tipton’s drummer threatened to fight anyone who suggested Tipton was really a woman because of his baby-faced looks.

It’s been claimed that Tipton legally married up to five women in the course of his life.

And Tipton’s biographer Dianne Middlebrook has stated that one of his first partners claimed she became pregnant by him before subsequently suffering a miscarriage.

Whilst the latter claim can be dismissed as fanciful it’s fascinating to see the extent that Tipton could ‘pass’ in an era not renowned for its support to trans people. On the other hand, it’s sad (but understandable) that he never felt comfortable enough to share his secret with those closest to him.