Her father was always kind and loving to her and her sister, nia, but the quarrels he had with her mother always led to violence. Billie holiday documentary billie acquired by greenwich. Oct 19, 2015 billie holiday, nee eleanora fagan, was born in philadelphia, 100 years ago this past april 7. She first rose to prominence in the 1930s with a unique style that reinvented the conventions of modern singing and performance. Billie holiday, who died on 17 july 1959 at 44, was born on april 7, 1915, and became one of the most influential singers of all time. Apr 03, 2015 john szweds brief but revelatory new book, billie holiday. She didnt have a picturesque life, and this book doesnt flinch from that. Born to an unwed teenage mother, sadie fagan, holidays childhood was one of poverty. Originally sung in new yorks cafe society, these revolutionary lyrics take on a life of their own in this revealing account of the song and the struggle it personified. Billie holiday books billie holidays 10 top songs music.
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. The musician and the myth viking, which comes out this weekjust under the wire for her centenary holiday was born april 7. More than 3,000 people attended the 44yearolds funeral. She borrowed the name billie from one of her favorite movie actresses, billie dove. It captures billie holiday s dynamic signature style beautifully, as well as showcasing all the cute pups in her life. Billie holiday born eleanora harris april 7, 1915 july 17, 1959 was an american jazz singer and songwriter. Jan 16, 2020 greenwich entertainment has acquired north american rights to billie, james erskines documentary about the life of iconic jazz singer billie holiday that world premiered over labor day weekend. Farah jasmine griffins 2001 book posed a challenge to biographers and helped reimagine holidays legacy. Although the title could only have been coined by a marketing department, the ultimate collection deserves the highest of praise. In recent months i read several books about billie holiday, including her autobiography lady sings the blues. It captures billie holidays dynamic signature style beautifully, as well as showcasing all the cute pups in her life. 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.
Countless books have been published on the life of billie holliday. Rock and roll hall of fame biography of billie holiday. She had a coatpocket poodle, a beagle, chihuahuas, a great dane, and more, but her favorite was a boxer named mister. Mister and lady day the official website of billie holiday. Her vocal style, strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists, pioneered a new way of manipulating phrasing. Mister and lady day is an appealing vignette of billie holiday s life, career, and love for dogs. The musician and the myth a concise and sharply focused critical biography. It is not only the first american compilation to survey billie holidays entire 25year career and astutely, at that but it also includes a dvd that presents the lions share of her film and tv appearances, a full discography, and an interactive timeline. Billie holiday books list of books by author billie holiday. Not long after eleanoras birth, clarence holiday abandoned his family to pursue a career as a jazz banjo and guitar player.
Billie holidays most popular book is lady sings the blues. Jerry dantzic archives christopher sweet, who edited the book, said the photos in holidays dressing room are probably his favorite. Richard brody, the new yorker when billie holiday first stepped into a recording studio in november 1933, it marked the beginning of what is arguably the most remarkable and influential career. The 50thanniversay edition with a revised discography harlem moon classics by billie holiday, william dufty, et al.
Billie holiday was a true artist of her day and rose as a social phenomenon in the 1950s. By the age of 10, she was all too aware of the abusive and hostile relationship between her father and mother. He never married her mother, sadie fagan, and left while his daughter was. See all books authored by billie holiday, including lady sings the blues, and god bless the child coretta scott king illustrator honor books, and more on. Publication date 1997 topics holiday, billie, 19151959 criticism and interpretation. She had a thriving career for many years before she lost her battle with addiction. Nicknamed lady day by her friend and music partner lester young, holiday had a seminal influence on jazz music and pop singing. May 25, 2017 billie holiday by carlos sampayo and jose munoz is a graphic novel about the famous jazz singer. Billie holiday s chaotic life reportedly began in baltimore on april 7, 1915 a few reports say 1912 when she was born eleanora fagan gough. Richard brody, the new yorker when billie holiday first stepped into a recording studio in november 1933, it marked the beginning of what is arguably the most remarkable and influential career in twentiethcentury popular music. Publication date 1984 topics holiday, billie, 19151959, singers, jazz singing holiday, billie biographies publisher tunbridge wells. John szweds briskly revealing book on billie holiday treats the writing of her autobiography, lady sings the blues, as a key event in the singers life.
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. Probably the best book ive read about billie holiday and the genius of her musical talent. May 10, 2017 billie holiday at sugar hill in newark, with her chihuahua. Apr 03, 2020 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. The author had to grow up quickly when she was a child. Billie holiday s version of the song is the best known and is so depressing that in 1941, the bbc banned her version of it from being broadcast because they felt it was detrimental to wartime morale. She made her debut circa 1930 singing in various nightclubs in harlem.
Billie holidayalso known as lady dayhad fame, style, a stellar voice, big gardenias in her hair, and lots of dogs. Check out the new look and enjoy easier access to your favorite features. Billie s blues highlights holiday s spunk, making it such a memorable listen. The jazz star is hailed as one of the greatest singers of all time.
Farah jasmine griffins 2001 book posed a challenge to biographers and helped reimagine holiday s legacy. Feb 24, 2020 billie holiday was one of the most influential jazz singers of all time. Billie is a nonfiction memoir written by billie king. Billie holiday has 27 books on goodreads with 11030 ratings. Greenwich entertainment has acquired north american rights to billie, james erskines documentary about the life of iconic jazz singer billie holiday that. Billie holiday was one of the most influential jazz singers of all time.
This biography brings to life the troubled career of billie holiday definitely one of the major jazz vocalists. Billie holiday as weve rarely seen her the washington post. Published october 1st 1995 by penguin books first published 1994. Billie holiday, born april 7, 1915 in philadelphia, pennsylvania, was a superstar of her day. Martin chilton picks her 10 best songs in her centenary year. Billie holidays version of the song is the best known and is so depressing that in 1941, the bbc banned her version of it from being broadcast because they felt it was detrimental to wartime morale. Recorded by jazz legend billie holiday in 1939, strange fruit is considered to be the first significant song of the civil rights movement and the first direct musical assault upon racial lynchings in the south. The life and times of billie holiday by donald clarke is a insightful book on billie holiday. Billie holiday biography life, family, childhood, name. Apr 07, 2015 billie holiday was born 100 years ago, on april 7, 1915. Billie holiday is 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. Billie holiday and the books to read for awareness and insight. Nicknamed lady day by her friend and musical partner lester young, holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing. Oct 02, 2019 billie holiday performs on stage at the sugar hill nightclub in newark, n.
John szweds briskly revealing book on billie holiday treats the writing of her autobiography, lady sings the blues, as a key event in the. Parisis earlier efforts took on no less iconic figures than john coltrane and billie holiday in coltrane and blues for lady day. It is not only the first american compilation to survey billie holiday s entire 25year career and astutely, at that but it also includes a dvd that presents the lions share of her film and tv appearances, a full discography, and an interactive timeline. 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. Billie holidays chaotic life reportedly began in baltimore on april 7, 1915 a few reports say 1912 when she was born eleanora fagan gough. Today, holiday is remembered for her masterpieces, creativity and vivacity, as many of holiday s songs. Billie holiday billie holiday at jatp stay with me music for torching velvet mood lady sings the blues body and soul songs for distingue lovers ella fitzgerald and billie holiday at newport all or nothing at all lady in satin last recordings the essential billie holiday. Billie holiday was born eleanora fagan on april 7, 1915, in philadelphia, pennsylvania, to teenaged unmarried parents, sarah julia sadie fagan and clarence holiday. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Billie holiday and the gloomy sunday curse american hauntings. Billie holiday was born 100 years ago, on april 7, 1915. Everyone knows about the sex and drugs but john szweds biography makes the case for holiday as a complex artist who inspired in many. Mister and lady day is an appealing vignette of billie holidays life, career, and love for dogs.
In lady sings the blues, holiday recalls some of the most resonant memories of her turbulent pastthe good, the mostly bad and the frequently ugly. Emotional power through song holiday became famous after she recorded strange fruit, a 1939 protest song about lynchings of africanamericans. Lady sings the blues 1956 is an autobiography by jazz singer billie holiday, which was coauthored by william dufty. Her father, clarence holiday, was a teenaged jazz guitarist and banjo player later to play in fletcher hendersons orchestra. 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. The italian artist has demonstrated a passion for american music, especially jazz, in his career as an illustrator. Carnegie hall concert recorded live lady in autumn. From the very start, billie holiday birth name eleanora fagan born to thirteen year old sadie fagan. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Billie holiday at sugar hill in newark, with her chihuahua. Billie holiday and the gloomy sunday curse american.