Billie Holiday

Cuando Eleanora Holiday, más conocida por Billie, o Lady Day para los amigos, murió en un hospital de Nueva York en 1959, dejaba tras de sí una de las carreras más míticas y deslumbrantes de la historia del jazz. Desde los miserables inicios en Baltimore, los primeros trabajos como criada, el intento de violacion a los diez años, la prostitucion, la discriminacion racial, la drogadiccion, los multiples pleitos y estancias en la carcel, el engaño por parte de casi todos los hombres que la trataron, su vida aparece jalonada por una serie de episodios que fraguaron su leyenda. Billie Holiday nos cuenta con conmovedora sinceridad en estas memorias escritas en colaboracion con su amigo y pianista William Dufty, en las que tambien se revive la mas esplendorosa epoca del jazz en los clubes de Harlem, la radio y los estudios de grabacion, las giras maratonianas y las jam-sessions al lado de musicos legendarios como, entre otros, Duke Ellington, Louis Amstrong, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Lester Young o Artie Shaw.

The first-ever collection of interviews with the tortured but groundbreaking singer Billie Holiday, part of Melville Houses beloved Last Interview series Legendary singer Billie Holiday comes alive in this first-ever collection of interviews from throughout her career. Included is her last interview, given from her deathbed in a New York City hospital, where police were standing by ready to arrest her for a parole violation should she recover. Also included: The transcript of an interrogation by a US Customs official questioning about whether shed violated her parole by using drugs on a foreign tour. But the book is more than a look at just the famously tragic side of her life. In other conversations, drawn from music magazines, late-night radio programs, and newspapers across the US and Canada, she discusses her childhood, musicians who influenced her, her friendship -- and falling out -- with the influential sax player Lester Young, why she chose the gardenia as her symbol, why she quit Count Basies band, her substance abuse problems, writing songs and whether she wrote her own memoir, and more. In frank and open conversations, Billie Holiday proves herself far more articulate, aware, intelligent, and even heroic than the way shes often portrayed. This collection is an essential volume for all who have been moved by her music.

Perfect for fans of The United States vs. Billie Holiday, this is the fiercely honest, no-holds-barred memoir of the legendary jazz, swing, and standards singing sensationa fiftieth-anniversary edition updated with stunning new photos, a revised discography, and an insightful foreword by music writer David RitzTaking the reader on a fast-moving journey from Billie Holidays rough-and-tumble Baltimore childhood (where she ran errands at a whorehouse in exchange for the chance to listen to Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith albums), to her emergence on Harlems club scene, to sold-out performances with the Count Basie Orchestra and with Artie Shaw and his band, this revelatory memoir is notable for its trenchant observations on the racism that darkened Billies life and the heroin addiction that ended it too soon. We are with her during the mesmerizing debut of Strange Fruit; with her as she rubs shoulders with the biggest movie stars and musicians of the day (Bob Hope, Lana Turner, Clark Gable, Benny Goodman, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, and more); and with her through the scrapes with Jim Crow, spats with Sarah Vaughan, ignominious jailings, and tragic decline. All of this is told in Holidays tart, streetwise style and hip patois that makes it read as if it were written yesterday.

A masterpiece, as fresh and shocking as if it were written yesterday Craig Brown"Ive been told that no one sings the word hunger like I do. Or the word love."Lady Sings the Blues is the inimitable autobiography of one of the greatest icons of the twentieth century. Born to a single mother in 1915 Baltimore, Billie Holiday had her first run-in with the law at aged 13. But Billie Holiday is no victim. Her memoir tells the story of her life spent in jazz, smoky Harlem clubs and packed-out concert halls, her love affairs, her wildly creative friends, her struggles with addiction and her adventures in love. Billie Holiday is a wise and aphoristic guide to the story of her unforgettable life.

A masterpiece as fresh and shocking as if it were written yesterday Craig Brown I ve been told that no one sings the word hunger like I do Or the word love Lady Sings the Blues is the inimitable autobiography of one of the greatest icons of the twentieth century Born to a single mother in 1915 Baltimore Billie Holiday had her first run in with the law at aged 13 But Billie Holiday is no victim Her memoir tells the story of her life spent in jazz smoky Harlem clubs and packed out concert halls her love affairs her wildly creative friends her struggles with addiction and her adventures in love Billie Holiday is a wise and aphoristic guide to the story of her unforgettable life

Las memorias de Billie Holiday, una de las voces femeninas del jazz más emblemáticas.Cuando Eleanora Holiday, más conocida por Billie, o Lady Day para los amigos, murió en un hospital de Nueva York en 1959, dejaba tras de si una de las carreras mas miticas y deslumbrantes de la historia del jazz. Desde los miserables inicios en Baltimore, los primeros trabajos como criada, el intento de violacion a los diez años, la prostitucion, la discriminacion racial, la drogadiccion, los multiples pleitos y estancias en la carcel, el engaño por parte de casi todos los hombres que la trataron, su vida aparece jalonada por una serie de episodios que fraguaron su leyenda. Billie Holiday nos cuenta con conmovedora sinceridad en estas memorias escritas en colaboracion con su amigo y pianista William Dufty, en las que tambien se revive la mas esplendorosa epoca del jazz en los clubes de Harlem, la radio y los estudios de grabacion, las giras maratonianas y las jam-sessions al lado de musicos legendarios como, entre otros, Duke Ellington, Louis Amstrong, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Lester Young o Artie Shaw.

Cuando Eleanora Holiday, más conocida por Billie, o Lady Day para los amigos, murió en un hospital de Nueva York en 1959, dejaba tras de sí una de las carreras más míticas y deslumbrantes de la historia del jazz. Desde los miserables inicios en Baltimore, los primeros trabajos como criada, el intento de violacion a los diez años, la prostitucion, la discriminacion racial, la drogadiccion, los multiples pleitos y estancias en la carcel, el engaño por parte de casi todos los hombres que la trataron, su vida aparece jalonada por una serie de episodios que fraguaron su leyenda. Billie Holiday nos cuenta con conmovedora sinceridad en estas memorias escritas en colaboracion con su amigo y pianista William Dufty, en las que tambien se revive la mas esplendorosa epoca del jazz en los clubes de Harlem, la radio y los estudios de grabacion, las giras maratonianas y las jam-sessions al lado de musicos legendarios como, entre otros, Duke Ellington, Louis Amstrong, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Lester Young o Artie Shaw.