Billie Holiday: A Tribute/Un hommage
Some notes on the life and career of “Lady Day” Billie Holiday
Set One
Lover Come Back To Me…Sigmund Romberg & Oscar Hammerstein II (1928)
I Cover The Waterfront……..Johnny Green, Edward Heyman (1933)
Too Marvelous For Words……Richard Whiting & Johnny Mercer (1937)
Let’s Do It…… Cole Porter (1928)
Lover Man…….Jimmy Davis, Roger Ramirez, James Sherman (1941)
I Only Have Eyes For You….Harry Warren & Al Dubin (1934)
You Don’t Know What Love Is….Gene de Paul & Don Raye (1941)
Love Me Or Leave Me…….Walter Donaldson & Gus Kahn (c. 1928)
Billie’s Blues (I Love My Man)……….Billie Holiday (1936)
Set Two
What A Little Moonlight Can Do…..Harry Woods (1934)
You’ve Changed…….Carl Fischer & Bill Carey (1941)
Mean To Me…….Fred E. Ahlert & Roy Turk (1929)
Them There Eyes…Maceo Pinkard, William Tracey, Doris Taubner (1930)
Don’t Explain…… Billie Holiday & Arthur Herzog Jr. (1944)
I Thought About You…. Jimmy Van Heusen & Johnny Mercer (1939)
Crazy He Calls Me….Carl Sigman & Bob Russell (1949)
Me, Myself and I… Irving Gordon, Allan Roberts, Alvin S. Kaufman (c. 1937)
God Bless The Child... Billie Holiday & Arthur Herzog Jr. (1930)
Billie Holiday (1915 – 1959) is widely considered one of the most important artists
in the history of jazz. Her soulful, unique singing voice and ability to boldly turn
any material that she confronted into her own music made her a superstar of her
time but her life was marked by great struggle and hard times.
Born Eleanora Fagan in Philadelphia, she grew up in jazz talent-rich Baltimore in
the 1920s listening to recordings by such greats as Bessie Smith and Louis
Armstrong. Episodes of extreme hardship included time spent in reform
institutions, physical neglect and sexual abuse. She eventually joined her mother
in Harlem, New York and before long, followed her path into prostitution while still
in her teenage years. At the age of 18, after gaining more life experience than
most adult musicians can claim and after singing in after-hours clubs, Holiday was
spotted by John Hammond and cut her first record.
Her vocal style, strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists, pioneered a new way of
manipulating phrasing and tempo. Today, Holiday is remembered for her creativity
and vivacity as well as for her poignant voice. Many of Holiday’s songs are as well
known today as they were decades ago and she is still considered one of the
greatest jazz voices of all time.
Holiday began working with Lester Young in 1936, who pegged her with her nowfamous nickname of “Lady Day.” When Holiday joined Count Basie in 1937 and
then Artie Shaw in 1938, she became one of the very first black women to work
with a white orchestra, an impressive accomplishment of her time.
Despite her lack of technical training, Holiday’s unique diction, inimitable phrasing
and acute dramatic intensity made her the outstanding jazz singer of her day.
White gardenias, worn in her hair, became her trademark. Billie Holiday, a musical
legend still popular today, died an untimely death at the age of 44. Her emotive
voice, innovative techniques and touching songs will forever be remembered and
enjoyed.
– Compiled from sources on the web where you can read much more about
Billie’s fascinating life and music.