Billie Holiday, one of my first jazz loves and still one of my greatest, died 50 years ago today at the age of 44. In tribute and remembrance, here are a few tributes to Billie, on and off Night Lights:
- One of the shows I ever recorded, The Day Lady Died: Billie Holiday, is a musical overview of her career that includes a recording of Frank O'Hara reading his famous poem about hearing the news of her death.
- Ghosts of Yesterday: Billie Holiday and the Two Irenes (A Jazz Mystery) investigates the confused identities of two women who wrote songs that became Holiday standards.
- If you're a Billie fan you might also want to check out this week's Afterglow program, Swing It, Lady, Swing: Billie Holiday With the Big Bands
- Lastly, here are some personal reflections on Billie that I wrote a couple of years ago.