Biff X. Tradwell was born some time during the 1970's, after a difficult labor lasting over 54 hours.  Few details are known of his early years - his mother is particularly reticent about Biff.  The one and only record of his childhood is a single photograph, displayed here on this page.

Both his parents live simple lives of obscurity and prefer to remain anonymous.  This web site will honor his parents' wishes.

Biff is believed to have graduated from a military high school in Colorado, and from a small private sectarian college in Arkansas some time before he turned 18.  Neither institution exists any more.  After Biff graduated, the first was destroyed by fire and the second was swept away by a flood from a collapsed dam.  In both incidents, foul play was suspected but never proved.  Fortunately, no one was hurt but the records of both schools were destroyed

There are reports that Biff was an eager, if introspective, student of remarkable intelligence, talent and imagination.  He was also known for quirkish abilities - for example, astonishing visual acuity. Driving, he would read road signs when they first appeared on the horizon and in one biology lab "pop" quiz, Biff glanced quickly from his seat at the back of the class towards Petri dishes on the professor's front desk.  He correctly identified 7 out of 8 bacteria strains using only his naked eye.

After graduating from college, Biff considered graduate school but realized that he lacked the requisite motivation.  He joined  the Army and rose quickly in the enlisted ranks. The Army discovered that he had rare aptitudes and he served with distinction on a secret arson task force and in an elite unit specializing in explosive demolition of civil works.  After only 11 months, at the conclusion of a sensitive mission, his military career ended abruptly.  Reports on this matter, shrouded in mystery, have still not been declassified by the Army.

Biff found his way to Charlottesville and enrolled in a few courses at the University of Virginia, but not in a regular degree program.  After he joined an a cappella  singing group called  The Academical Village People, surprising new talents surfaced.  He displayed great tonal range, excellent musical expressiveness, rare performing talent and exquisite comedic timing.  Although audiences assumed he had committed an enormous repertoire to memory, fellow AVP members knew the truth.  Biff often placed a 4" x 5" sheet of microfilm unobtrusively at the rear of  the auditorium.  Seeming merely to "be in touch with his audience" as he looked into their faces, he was actually using his incredible eyesight to 'crib' words, music and even choreography from the sheet he had posted.

Largely as a result of Biff's contribution, AVP became legendary in college a cappella music circles.  AVP was twice selected for  the national college a cappella finals competition.  Regrettably, Biff failed to appear either time and AVP lost narrowly.  He was unable to offer a satisfactory explanation for failing to show up.

But AVP is quite forgiving, so Biff is still a member in good standing.  He often performs around the grounds of the University with the group.  Do catch him if you can.  Much of Biff's energies these days, when he is not performing with AVP, go into breeding exotic squirrels, Moravian poetry, sailing, and a new business activity - he's putting together an initial public offering for a well established but closely held business that will specialize in trading electricity futures, internet bandwidth and llama ovaries. 

Biff, sailing this schooner single-handed.

His financial means appear to be adequate to support an independent lifestyle, but no one really knows their source.  He was a silent partner in the Tsavo Syndicate, which operates a sleek racing sailboat out of the Tsavo Polo and Sailing Club on Maryland's Rhode River.  Biff lived there half-time in its luxurious club house.  He will neither confirm nor deny that he served as the syndicate's director for "black" technical development projects.

While in Maryland these days, he serves as Commodore of the Beards Creek Sailing Club, the oldest and most distinctive sailing club on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay.

When in Virginia, he lives in a modest Charlottesville apartment, sometimes taking in homeless people as acts of very personal charity. Biff realizes he's a bit intense and his friends have learned that he enjoys a break now and then from his demanding pursuits.  He really appreciates an occasional telephone call from strangers, so give Biff a jingle - he's in the book.