Today, Billie Holiday is an icon â?? an artist whose voice has weathered countless shifts in public taste, and whose impact on contemporary music is unquestionable.
"Revelatory . . . one of the most briskly revealing pieces of jazz biography that I've read." --Richard Brody, The New Yorker When Billie Holiday first stepped into a recording studio in November 1933, it marked the beginning of what is arguably the most remarkable and influential career in twentieth-century popular music. Her voice weathered countless shifts in popular taste, and today new reincarnations of her continue to arrive, most recently in the form of singers like Amy Winehouse and Adele. Most of the writing on Holiday has focused on the tragic details of her life--her prostitution at the age of fourteen, her heroin addiction and alcoholism, her series of abusive relationships--or tried to correct the many fabrications of her autobiography. But Billie Holiday strips away the myths and puts her music front and center, staying close to her artistry, her performance style, and the self she created and put on record and onstage. Drawing on a vast amount of new material that has surfaced in the last decade, critically acclaimed jazz writer and musician John Szwed presents not just a biography, but a meditation on Billie Holiday's art and its relation to her life. Along the way, he illuminates her influences, her uncanny voice and rhythmic genius, her signature songs--including Strange Fruit and God Bless the Child--and her enduring legacy as the greatest jazz singer of all time.
Anyone who has ever heard a Billie Holiday record knows the sound of her voice,sad, sexy, always relaxed but securely aware of the beat. Conveying a poignancy that cut to the heart of a song, she redeemed even trivial material with her impeccable sense of dramatic phrasing and time. The well-known tale of her lifelong battle with drugs has obscured the artistry that has made her one of the most revered singers of the twentieth century. Everyone from Frank Sinatra (who in the 1950s called her "unquestionably the most important influence on American popular singing in the last twenty years") to Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan has recognized the singularity of her interpretations. The racism that Billie found at every turn, whether in Artie Shaw's band or in the heart of the south, immortalized in the chilling song "Strange Fruit," cannot be overlooked in her biography. Jazz historian John Chilton has told the story of her short, tragic, influential career with restraint, correcting many of the more sensational tales she wrote about herself in Lady Sings the Blues . Buck Clayton, who knew Billie in the Basie band during the nineteen-thirties, has written a warm and personal foreword to this fascinating biography of a great American artist.
Certainly no singer has been more mythologized and more misunderstood than Billie Holiday, who helped to create much of the mystique herself with her autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues . "Now, finally, we have a definitive biography," said Booklist of Donald Clarke's Billie Holiday , "by a deeply compassionate, respectful, and open-minded biographer [whose] portrait embraces every facet of Holiday's paradoxical nature, from her fierceness to her vulnerability, her childlikeness to her innate elegance and amazing strength." Clarke was given unrivaled access to a treasure trove of interviews from the 1970s,interviews with those who knew Lady Day from her childhood in the streets and good-time houses of Baltimore through the early days of success in New York and into the years of fame, right up to her tragic decline and death at the age of forty-four. Clarke uses these interviews to separate fact from fiction and, in the words of the Seattle Times , "finally sets us straight. . .evoking her world in all its anguish, triumph, force and irony." Newsday called this "a thoroughly riveting account of Holiday and her milieu." The New York Times raved that it "may be the most thoroughly valuable of the many books on Holiday," and Helen Oakley Dance in JazzTimes said, "We should probably have to wait a long time for another life of Billie Holiday to supersede Donald Clarke's achievement."
Billie Holiday (1915-1959), the legendary jazz singer whose vocal stylings were deeply affecting, continues to enthrall. This biography conveys her hard-luck youth, career triumphs, and then decline and early death. At age 14, despite growing up with an absentee musician father, little schooling, a rape at 10, and jail time for prostitution, this extraordinary girl moved to New York City to find work as a dancer or singer. She soon became the toast of Harlem and went on to tour and record with the biggest names in jazz. Holiday's career took off in the 1930s, during the Depression, and the biography evokes the era and atmosphere of the jazz club scene. The state of race relations in the country is discussed as Holiday tours with white bandleaders such as Artie Shaw and even as she sings about lynching in the controversial Strange Fruit. The narrative further chronicles Holiday's relationships, descent into drug addiction, the subsequent diminishment of her talent, and tragic early death. Readers today will then want to seek out Holiday's recordings to more fully appreciate her interpretations of the songs of that classic era.
Billie Templar desperately wants her dad to come home. He's a soldier and has been away for seven weeks, fighting for 'Queen and country' - but how can the two of them possibly defend their four-year record of winning the three-legged race at the school carnival if he's thousands of miles away?
"Prior to the Me-Too movement and Times-Up initiative, there was a heart-wrenching, brilliantly written autobiography called, "Billie". This Ain't No Billie Jean King Story. An autobiographical account of one woman learning to cope with her past and a unique set of trials of her own, even as she is unintentionally linked to one of the most iconic women ever to play the game of tennis.Daddy's little girl, or so she thought. Growing up in Compton, California, in a city that has broken many before her, a city that seems to have Keep Out, One Way and No Outlet signs posted at every turn, the odds are stacked against Billie King.Poverty, drug addiction and dysfunction within the household often take center stage as the wild cards in Billie's life. At a very young age, she becomes a victim of molestation at the hands of a trusted family friend. She also witnesses and personally experiences domestic abuse, all while trying to be the glue that holds her family together.Following her destiny, Billie assumes the role of protector and redeemer of her broken family but at great cost to her sanity and artistic future. She discovers that both the hardships and her name have come to form the rock-solid foundation of her destiny and her strength. Along the way, she rises above a broken family and a tragic life to become an award-winning writer/director.
Jim Blackburn, out-of-work journalist, meets a prickly old woman at an airport overlook, the start of an unlikely friendship. Over several months she spins a tale of her amazing life's journey. Jim discovers that Billie Hardwicke is a veteran World War II Women Airforce Service Pilot (WASP), an adventurous, sometimes foolhardy soul who bravely takes on the Army's most challenging bombers, transports and pursuit aircraft. Jim realizes he must tell the world her story.Beginning in her teens, Billie questions her place in the world, her talents, even her own sexuality. Then she finds her true calling...in the air. She fights to gain a foothold in the male dominated skies, while breaking the law, breaking more than one heart, even killing. Billie crisscrosses America, leaps the North Atlantic and dives deep into the treacherous South American jungle, always pushing the envelope and the limits of her abilities.As Billie's story makes its final approach, Jim will discover secrets she has carried for decades. And he will find his life closely tied to hers while learning to confront his own fear of flying.
Tiny Idols biographies feature BIG stars for the littlest of hands Introduce your little ones to Billie Eilish with this read-aloud board book biography that's perfect for fans young and old. From her hit debut single "Ocean Eyes" to her Grammy Award-winning career, Billie Eilish is one of the greatest artists today. Follow her journey in this inspiring board book biography for the youngest readers, with an empowering message and fun Easter eggs that fans of any age will love
Billie Red Wattle hasn't a care in the world. He is handsome, he flies, and he keeps intruders away from Mr. and Mrs. Roberts' garden. But everything changes the day Billie becomes a dad. Handsome Billie Red Wattle suddenly finds his life turned upside down Keeping intruders away was a piece of cake compared to this A Book that teaches children 'responsibility' and about the Australian Flora and Fauna in a fun way
In this book from the critically acclaimed, multimillion-copy bestselling Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the inspiring life of Billie Jean King, the tennis star who has dedicated her life to breaking barriers both on and off the tennis court. Billie Jean began playing tennis at the age of 11. After one of her first tennis lessons, she told her mother, "I'm going to be No. 1 in the world," a title she would come to hold five times between 1966 and 1972. Twenty years later, she is still today considered one of the most successful women in sport history. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the amazing sportswoman's life.Little People, BIG DREAMS is a bestselling biography series for kids that explores the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream. This empowering series of books offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardback and paperback versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. With rewritten text for older children, the treasuries each bring together a multitude of dreamers in a single volume. You can also collect a selection of the books by theme in boxed gift sets. Activity books and a journal provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children.Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS!
In this book from the critically acclaimed, multimillion-copy best-selling Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the inspiring life of Billie Jean King, the tennis star who has dedicated her life to breaking barriers both on and off the tennis court. Billie Jean began playing tennis at the age of 11. After one of her first tennis lessons, she told her mother, "I'm going to be No. 1 in the world," a title she would come to hold five times between 1966 and 1972. Twenty years later, she is still today considered one of the most successful women in sports history. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the amazing sportswoman's life.Little People, BIG DREAMS is a best-selling series of books and educational games that explore the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream. This empowering series offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardcover versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. Boxed gift sets allow you to collect a selection of the books by theme. Paper dolls, learning cards, matching games, and other fun learning tools provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children.Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS!
Embrace your individuality and blaze your own trail with this gorgeously illustrated guide to all things Billie Eilish.From her debut single “Ocean Eyes” to winning two Academy Awards for her iconic songs for No Time to Die and Barbie, Billie Eilish is a young talent whose career knows no bounds. Gathering the details of her life, career, music, and fan culture into one handy volume, Billie Eilish Is Life captures her wide-ranging musical endeavors, her epic achievements, and her ability to live life on her own terms.This guide to all things Billie includes:A full biography, delving into her early life and inspirations, her collaborations with her brother Finneas, and her amazing musical career to dateA discography of Billie Eilish’s music, including When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, Happier Than Ever, and Hit Me Hard and SoftAll her awards and accolades across music and moviesBillie’s fierce commitment to being herself, from her unique—and evolving—style to her political activismFor all the bad guys who love Billie’s music to fans of Bond and Barbie who came to know her through her award-winning songs for those major films, Billie Eilish Is Life is a stunning illustrated tribute to this multifaceted artist.The Modern Icons series takes you on a journey through the lives and legacies of cultural icons who have shaped our world, from fashion to music to media. With original illustrations and meticulously crafted prose, this series captivates and enlightens, offering a glimpse into the personalities whose unparalleled charm and authenticity have left an indelible mark on popular culture. The series includes: Taylor Swift Is Life, Beyonce Is Life, Harry Styles Is Life, Rihanna Is Life, Zendaya Is Life, Adele Is Life, Timothee Chalamet Is Life, and Billie Eilish Is Life.
Named 'the most talked-about teen on the planet' by NME and a 'pop prodigy' by Harper's Bazaar, in the space of just three years and still just a teenager, Billie Eilish has become one of the most streamed artists on the planet. From her unique style of songs, co-created with her brother, Finneas O'Connell, to her squeamish videos and unusual look, Billie is far from your typical 18-year old singer.Though she's young, she's no cookie-cutter pop star. Her famous dead eyes, her performatively bored attitude along with her angsty, often sadistic lyrics about serial killers and psychopaths make Eilish intruiging and 'intimidating as hell'. With her colourful hair and her refusal to wear any tight clothing, Eilish is well known for her distinctive style. Her loose, body-obscuring silhouettes in neon colours and graffiti prints have become so iconic that she has now launched her own retro-inspired clothing collection. But Eilish's appeal doesn't just stem from her style or her music, she is also admired for her frank discussion of mental health and body image issues and taking her social responsibility as a role model seriously. According to New York Times, Billie Eilish represents a 'collective middle finger to the strictures of teen-pop sex appeal'.Eilish's celebrity superfans range from Shawn Mendes and Julia Roberts to Katy Perry and Nirvana's David Grohl. But did you know that Billie is vegan? Or that her middle name is 'Pirate'? This book is full of fascinating facts and fun nuggets of knowledge which will delight superfans as well as those new to her music but keen to find out more. And with seven gold and three platinum singles in the US under her belt, it looks like Billie is set to dominate the music industry for many years to come.
"Oh, Dad, I can't believe it's true " In the rather dim light of the gloomy old room the boys and girls looked queer-almost ghostly. They were gathered about a shabby old trunk, and beside this trunk a man was kneeling. As Billie Bradley spoke, the man, who was her father, rose to his feet and thoughtfully brushed the dust from his clothes. Then he stood looking down at the hundreds and hundreds of postage stamps and old coins that filled the queer old trunk. "
"Aren't you glad that we are only going back to school for a little while? " cried Billie Bradley, as she gave a little exultant skip. "Suppose it were fall and we were beginning high-" "Billie, stop it, " commanded Laura Jordon, turning a pair of very blue and very indignant eyes upon her chum. "I thought we were going to forget school for a little while. "