Billie holiday was born eleanora fagan on april 7, 1915, in baltimore, maryland. The discography of billie holiday consists of twelve studio albums, three live albums, twentyfour compilations, five box sets, and 38 singles. Sings the blues, music biographer david ritz writes. Billie holiday s most popular book is lady sings the blues. Please submit questions or licensing requests for the commercial use of her image and likeness via the email links below. Mister and lady day the official website of billie holiday. She borrowed the name billie from one of her favorite movie actresses, billie dove. Billie holiday has 27 books on goodreads with 11030 ratings. Learn the 5 essential left hand techniques with my free ebook. She didnt have a picturesque life, and this book doesnt flinch from that. Jazz vocalist billie holiday was born in 1915 in philadelphia.
The life story of jazz singer billie holiday told in her own words. The life and times of billie holiday,by donald clark, narrated by anna fields, produced by blackstone audio, downloaded from. Dufty did the actual writing, based on long and detailed conversations with. It is an erratic look into the private life of billie holiday one of jazzs great singers. Eleanora fagan, professionally known as billie holiday, was an african american jazz singer with a. Billie holiday born april 7, 1915, philadelphia, pennsylvania, usa died july 17, 1959, new york city, new york, usa was an american jazz singer and songwriter. Billie holidays most popular book is lady sings the blues. Greenwich entertainment has acquired north american rights to billie, james erskines documentary about the life of iconic jazz singer billie holiday that. God bless the child billie holiday real book melody. This site is maintained by the estate of billie holiday. Thats especially true of the books latter half, the musician, where szwed analyses holidays vocal technique and what one critic called her.
The book formed the basis of the 1972 film lady sings the blues starring diana ross. Song there is no greater love single version artist billie holiday. As betsy collins, a juilliard trained classical pianist, and her musically talented son douglas nassau both said, stella is the real deal. Her emotive voice, innovative techniques and touching songs will forever be remembered and enjoyed imdb mini biography by.
From the streets of baltimore to her deathbed in a new york hospital, billie holiday s real life story is equal parts inspirational and tragic. Billie holiday was an african american jazz vocalist who perhaps showed the most expression of feeling of any singer in jazz history. Stella heath channeling billie holiday at the sofia in a traveling tribute show she created, the billie holiday projectif you get a chance to catch it, go. Gottlieb collection entered into the public domain on february 16, 2010. Published march 6th 1984 by penguin books first published 1956. While our library facilities are closed until further notice, library staff are available to assist faculty and students with accessing our rich set of digital resources and online services. Considered one of the best jazz vocalists of all time, holiday had a thriving career as a jazz singer for many years before she lost her battle with substance abuse.
Lady sings the blues 1956 is an autobiography by jazz singer billie holiday, which was. The tragic story behind billie holiday s strange fruit. Books by billie holiday author of lady sings the blues. Her soulful, unique singing voice and her ability to boldly turn any material that she confronted into her own music made her a superstar of her time. Holidays voice, no matter how the duftyholiday interviewing process went, is as real as rain. She was also called lady day, a nickname that her friend and musical partner lester young gave her. Velvet mood subtitled songs by billie holiday is an album by jazz singer billie holiday, released in 1956 on clef records. The 50thanniversay edition with a revised discography harlem moon classics by billie holiday, william dufty, et al.
A book that goes beyond biography and looks into holidays meaning and reception. My mom was a jazz band singer in the same era as billie holiday. Billie holiday history of the real billie holiday vinyl. Nicknamed lady day by her loyal friend and musical partner, lester young, holiday was a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing. Billie holiday documentary billie acquired by greenwich. The tragic story behind billie holidays strange fruit. John szweds briskly revealing book on billie holiday treats the. Lady sings the blues 1956 is an autobiography by jazz singer billie holiday, which was coauthored by william dufty. Nicknamed lady day by her friend and music partner lester young, holiday had a seminal influence on jazz music and pop singing. The book begins with an essay by francis marmande, a writer and journalist for le monde.
Billie holiday strange fruit live 1959 reelin in the. She had a coatpocket poodle, a beagle, chihuahuas, a great dane, and more, but her favorite was a boxer named mister. The firstever collection of interviews with the tortured but groundbreaking singer billie holiday, part of melville houses beloved last interview series legendary singer billie holiday comes alive in this firstever collection of interviews from throughout her career. The legendary billie holiday was a vocalist with basie for a short stint 193738, although she was unable to record with the band because of her contract with another record label. Get billie holiday easy living sheet music notes, chords. Billie holiday biography billie holiday april 7, 1915 july 17, 1959 was an american jazz singer and songwriter. This book was written in 1994 and recorded by anna fields in 1996, who is no longer alive, and whose narrations i still miss.
Szwed is aware of the danger of the holiday legend, and is determined to show that she was much more than an emotive performer blessed with a unique gift. April 7, 1915 july 17, 1959 was an american jazz singer and songwriter. In accordance with the generous wishes of william gottlieb, the photographs in the william p. Reelin in the years productions has available for licensing over 20,000 hours of music footage spanning 90 years.
A slow stride jazz piano cover of this billie holiday classic. Billie holiday, a musical legend still popular today, died an untimely death at the age of 44. These are the real life mobsters and events that inspired the books and movies. Holiday never entered the recording studio in 1953. Billie holiday mg c161 is the third 10 inch lp album of original material by jazz singer billie holiday, released on clef records in 1954 her final album would also be given the same title, prior to being changed to last recording instead. Published october 1st 1995 by penguin books first published 1994. The 50thanniversay edition with a revised discography. This biography brings to life the troubled career of billie holiday definitely one of the major jazz vocalists of the. The musician and the myth a concise and sharply focused critical biography. Also known as lady day, her autobiography was made into the 1972 film lady sings the blues. Billie holiday fine and mellow instrumental only youtube. Eleanora fagan april 7, 1915 july 17, 1959, professionally known as billie holiday, was an american jazz singer with a career spanning nearly thirty years. More than 80 years after making her first recording billies legacy continues to embody what is elegant and cool in contemporary music. John szweds brief but revelatory new book, billie holiday.
Columbia records on its subsidiary labels brunswick records, vocalion records, and okeh records, from 1933 through 1942. Billie holiday was a true artist of her day and rose as a social phenomenon in the 1950s. Solitude chord progression jazz backing track play along the real book duration. Billie holiday biography life, family, childhood, name. When billie holiday first stepped into a recording studio in november 1933, it marked the. Billie holiday the billie holiday story releases discogs. Songs of distingue lovers 180g gatefold lp by billie holiday vinyl, jan2017, jazz images.