This past weekend I saw the show The Blue Album by David Cale and Dael Orlandersmith at the Long Wharf Theatre. This two character show which was presented as a tracklist to a record album, had a wonderful ten minute vignette on Billie Holiday. The next day the New York Times had a review of Diana Ross' concert at Madison Square Garden and mentioned her portrayal of Billie Holiday in the movie Lady Sings the Blues. This occurrence led me to read Ms. Holiday's memoir Lady Sings the Blues, the 50th anniversary edition which includes a tribute compact disc. What a great way to immerse oneself in the life and music of a brilliant, compelling artist.
The Library has Julia Blackburn's With Billie, Donald Clarke's Wishing on the Moon: The Life and Times of Billie Holiday, Farah Jasmine Griffin's If You Can't Be Free, Be a Mystery: In Search of Billie Holiday, and Stuart Nicholson's Billie Holiday. Our compact disc collection includes Billie Holiday: The Commodore Master Takes, The Complete Billie Holiday On Verve, 1945-1959, and Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday On Columbia 1933-1944.
Who is your favorite artist? Have you ever had an experience where one thing triggers a memory followed by another unexpected remembrance?