Born 100 years ago today

Born 100 years ago today

main

norman lebrecht

April 07, 2015

And dead at 44.

BILLIE-HOLIDAY

Comments

  • Sergei says:
    April 7, 2015 at 11:46 am

    Best jazz&blues singer of all times, IMO.

    Reply
  • Freddy says:
    April 7, 2015 at 2:44 pm

    Beautiful lady but terribly overrated as a singer…..

    Reply
  • David Boxwell says:
    April 8, 2015 at 4:20 am

    Sinatra said in 1958 that she was the single greatest influence on him, from the beginning of his career onwards. And, in turn, she started singing a couple of his 50s hits (“All the Way”) on her last albums. Armstrong, Crosby, and Holiday: in the early 30s, all three truly revolutionized how popular song was sung.

    Reply
  • Una says:
    April 8, 2015 at 9:52 am

    I would have said the opposite, Freddy, more underrated than overrrated given she died so young and so long ago, and black. Had an enormous influence on so many, and that’s the sign of a great lady who had a very short life. Like Mozart, I wonder what she would have done if she had lived. Lovely clip, Norman, thanks for the reminder.

    Reply

    • MOST READ TODAY: