Was listening to a local blues station because I had enough of Little Drummer Boy and all, and a song came on that was a favorite of my mother….she had several albums, 78s, of Holiday and her fantastic voice….this was one of her favorites…..
This lady had a fabulous voice it is a real shame that her life was so messed up and the American government was no help at all….
Despite her status as one of the world’s most influential jazz and blues singers, Billie Holiday passed away penniless and alone.
The artist rose to stardom in the 1930s with chart-topping hits such as “Strange Fruit,” “I’ll Be Seeing You,” and “Gloomy Sunday.”
Her distinctive and emotive vocal delivery solidified her place among the all-time greats. However, behind the scenes, Holiday’s life was fraught with difficulties.
Throughout her career and life, she endured pervasive racism. Holiday was denied entry through the front doors of venues and faced segregation in hotels and public accommodations.
In 1938, Holiday made history by touring with Artie Shaw, becoming the first Black woman to lead a white jazz band. Yet, she was forced to find her own lodging as she was prohibited from staying in the same hotels as the rest of the ensemble.
The alleged catalyst for the racism she encountered was her performance of Strange Fruit – a potent protest song against the lynching of Black Americans.
Holiday’s struggle with drug addiction throughout her career made her a target for the US government, which reportedly hatched a scheme to ruin her career.
The Federal Bureau of Narcotics, headed by the purportedly racist Harry J. Anslinger, had a particular fixation on controlling and punishing Black musicians.
https://www.the-express.com/entertainment/music/193210/music-icon-penniless-hospital-bed-government
A real shame that racism was so readily accepted…..she had more talent in her little finger than some of today’s “mega-stars’….
Not many know the whole story of Holiday only her voice and music….she deserved so much better than she ever got.
And it appears that that same destructive racism is returning….will we let it?
I Read, I Write, You Know
“lego ergo scribo”
Diana Ross played her in the biopic ‘Lady Sings The Blues’. It did show some of the racism and drug addiction, but I didn’t think Diana was a good enough actress to tell the real story. She was also rather too ‘pretty’ in the role. Best wishes, Pete.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068828/
That movie tried but failed… chuq
Will we let the racism return? You ask — I cannot see any evidence that it ever left…although in its present manifestation it is far more subtle than it was at its height.
It has not gone just smouldering under the blanket of respectability. chuq