Billie Holiday died in New York City at 3 a.m. on Friday, July 17, 1959–45 years to the day of this broadcast. In addition to Holiday’s music–”Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me,” from her little-known last album BILLIE HOLIDAY (recorded after LADY IN SATIN), “This Year’s Kisses” (with Lester Young), the vibrant early side “Life Begins When You’re in Love,” a moodier & spookier alternate take of her Decca recording “No More,” and other tracks–we’ll hear Lester Young and Mal Waldron talking about Billie, along with Waldron and Holiday’s composition “Left Alone.” The program also includes a 1966 recording of Frank O’Hara reading his poetic tribute, “The Day Lady Died.”
Music Heard On This Episode
Miss D.D.
Mary Lou Williams — Black Christ of the Andes (Smithsonian/Folkways, 1964)
