Gawd, no matta how long this topic can be, it would NEVA express my love 4 this lady. As a Jazz pianist(Sometimes a singer) I consider her the biggest influence on my music(Sometimes personality ). I dreamed about her and I'll post about it lata

I think that between (30's and the late 40's) are the BEST musical periods 4 Billie. She was at her BEST esp when she got with my FAVE pianist(Mr. Teddy Wilson ), both of 'em made beautiful music 2ghether. Also Charlie Parker made one hell of a jop by blowing the sax in her records.

Naming her best records can be TUFF 4 me but I'll have 2 say that I'm addicted to "Romance in the dark" & "Georgia on my mind" 4 now.

Any Piano Solo by Teddy Wilson from her songs is just AMAZING.

Brother-DavidEye-June7-Adorable and all the rest of ya'll: I'm intrested in yo thoughts

I saw a portion of "Say It Loud"-the black american music special that aired on VH1 and it showed Billie singing Strange Fruit. A song about lynching in the south.

Does anyone know if that VH1 special is available anywhere on VHS?

mistermcgee said:

I wish i messed that and I'm blaming myself eversince!

Billie Holiday was DEFINITELELY 1 of the all-time greats! An AWESOMELY emotive singer,she was also,as u have pointed out, blessed with the opportunity of working with some of the jazz greats of her era, as befitted her monumental status.


"Lady in Satin" is a personal favourite, even though it's largely heart-wrenching 2 listen 2 (perhaps reflecting the tragedy of her personal life?). Her voice may have changed dramatically by this stage but she still delivers with deep emotion and honesty.

I may sound bitchy by saying this esp about an artist I trully love. I feel moved whenever I put her 50's records in my 45 not becoz of her depth but becoz of her 'addiction'

I love Billie Holiday!

She was truly amazing.

lady day was so unique!
just listen 2 her singing songs like
tain't no bodys bizness if I do,body & soul,
lover man and all of those recordings,
especially the ones from the 30's & early
40's in my opinion.

a lot of people took advantage of her
being a sweet,generous & loving
person.a sad process that eventually
destroyed her.U can't help but loving
her.

peace/manki

Lady Day, Lady Day...

Southern trees bear a strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees
Pastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia sweet and fresh
And the sudden smell of burning flesh
Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather
For the wind to suck
For the sun to rot
For a tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop

~Lewis Allan, 1940


Editing...do it in private...
[This message was edited Sun Sep 22 20:33:46 PDT 2002 by Supernova]

Oh,my God this Lady sure does sing the Blues...Give me Billy Holliday's sultry voice on my turntable cause she is just so smooth and just one of my favorites. Great movie with Diana and Billy Dee Williams... How's about some more favorites? Miss Eartha Kitt, Miss Lena Horne, Miss Josephine Baker...Miss Phoebe Snow...man oh,man I just Love these ladies...

not only did I enjoy Books on Her&Her Music not to Mention "Lady Sings the Blues" but I also dug Her Earthy Vibe.She was Very Down to Earth.not a Technical Great Singer like Ella Fitzgerald but far more Feeling&Depth&Soul that you just can't teach.The Lady was a Vocal "Genius".

I neglected to add quite a few years ago another beautiful woman Lonette McKey played her in an off Broadway play Something about Lady Blue's Bar and Grill. I forgot the Name of the play. I love Lonette and she is a great Actress and has anybody ever seen the Cotton Club with RichardGere,Diane Lane and Lonette? Damn I believe both Gregory and his brother was in it also and what about White Nights with GregHines and Mikel Barishnakov{I know I'm off with the spelling.} Say You ,Say Me Lionel Richie ,God I miss the Commodores...What a Great group...

Natasha said:

I saw "Cotton Club".I forgot the Crazy Story involving Damond Wilson who played Lamont Sanford on "Sanford&Son".He had a a role in the "Cotton Club"&there was a crazy story with Him.anyway Lonette Mckey was a Fine&Fly High Yellow Sister.Juicy Red-Bone.She was in one of My All-time Favorite Films "Which Way is up" with Richard Pryor.true on the Commodores before they got all "Log Cabin" out.Peace

I can remember listening to Billie back in High School. My grandma was in a record club and she received a live record of Billie recording songs. "Ain't no body's business" I can still hear it in my head today. (And that was a long time ago) Her songs show a depth of soul that cannot be repeated by anyone.

I love her and wish she were still around. I guess that's why we have records, tapes and CDs. I can still enjoy her knowing she's gone to a better place.

My absolute favorite by her is FINE AND MELLOW -

I have a huge boxset by her but I think I've broken it out one time I gotta give that thing a spin...

billie holiday was a legend who died b4 her time...she is amazing and there will never b another quite like her