Remedy du Jour -- March 9, 2013

This is a repeat of my Remedy on March 24, 2012 — Dave

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Today we pay tribute to the peerless American jazz singer Billie Holiday, born Eleanora Fagan in 1915, probably in Philadelphia. Dubbed "Lady Day" by Lester Young, Holiday's career started in the 1930s and ended with her death in 1959 at the age of 44. Billie struggled with drug addiction throughout her too short life, but her singing reminds us whenever we hear it what true musical greatness is. In contemporary times someone will say so-and-so reminds us of Billie Holiday, or she has a voice like Billie Holiday. These comparisons are always meant as great praise. Thus Lady Day set the standard by which others can be judged, though all great singers are outstanding in their own way.

Here's the playlist.

• Stormy Weather
• God Bless The Child
• Lover Man
• Lady Sings The Blues (an excerpt from the documentary)
• Fine And Mellow (live from CBS studios, 1957)

Enjoy.

 

 

 

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Comments

[Oliver]

Thanks as always Dave for the temporary respite. It's sad Billie battled with drugs to get through this insane life. The irony is that what gets me through is listening to greats like her.