As you know already, this movie is about the legendary jazz blues singer billie hilliday. The song also featured as the title track of a movie about holidays life starring diana ross and has been covered numerous times by the likes of ella fitzgerald, diana ross, and smokey robinson. Lady sings the blues is an album by american jazz vocalist billie holiday released in december 1956. By the time in early 20th century, it was not easy to live as an afro american lady in america. In 1972 diana ross portrayal of holiday in lady sings the blues was nominated for an oscar and won a golden globe. Beginning with holidays traumatic youth, the film depicts her early attempts at a singing career and.
Billie holiday lady sings the blues releases discogs. Its a compilation of rare performance footage by the amazingly gifted jazz legend billie holiday herself. Lady sings the blues 1972 pop star diana ross portrays legendary jazz singer billie holiday in this biographical drama. Lady sings the blues trailer 1972 music by michel legrand. Holidays own account of her life was filled with fabrications that the screenwriters blithely took at face value.
When diana ross chose to make her feature film debut playing the role of billie holiday, in the biopic lady sings the blues, released on 12 october 1972. It was produced by motown productions for paramount pictures. There is an uncanny echo, a suggestion, and yet the style is a tribute to billie holiday, not an impersonation. Holiday would go on to be nominated for 23 posthumous grammy awards. Jul 16, 2011 in nineteen fiftysix, billie holiday wrote a book about her life called lady sings the blues shirley griffith. Furie about jazz singer billie holiday, loosely based on her 1956 autobiography which, in turn, took its title from one of holidays most popular songs.
Diana ross, as billie holiday, in lady sings the blues sorry for the low volume. The movie was based on the autobiography lady sings the blues written by billie holiday and william duffy. The essence of billie holiday,one of americas most loved and memorable singers,is captured brilliantly in a tourdeforce debut performance by singer diana ross. Jul 10, 2011 diana ross, as billie holiday, in lady sings the blues sorry for the low volume. In the early nineteen thirties, a music producer, john hammond, heard billie. Lady sings the blues the official website of billie holiday. In deference to the other nominees, every time i watch this film i can only think diana ross was robbed for. Lady sings the blues dvd the essence of billie holiday, one of americas most loved and memorable blues singers, is captured brilliantly in a tourdeforce d. Lady sings the blues songs written by billie holiday the.
Casting a shadow over even holidays brightest moments is the. In nineteen fiftysix, billie holiday wrote a book about her life called lady sings the blues shirley griffith. The story of the troubled life and career of the legendary jazz singer, billie holiday. Billie holidays alleged autobiography, coauthored with hack writer william f. Furie about jazz singer billie holiday, loosely based on her 1956 autobiography which, in turn, took its title from one of holiday s most popular songs. Billie holiday songs from the film lady sings the blues vinyl. Motown released a hugely successful soundtrack doublealbum of ross recordings of billie holiday songs from the film, also titled lady sings the blues. Lady sings the blues 1972 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Also highly suspect was the films primary source material. Lady sings the blues is a 1972 american biographical drama film directed by sidney j. Lady sings the blues original soundtrack diana ross.
In the movie special features there is a lot of information in here from diana and billy dee and how physically attracted they were to each other while doing the film. Lady sings the blues is the noholdsbarred, if somewhat dramatized autobiography of billie holiday, the legendary jazz, swing, and standards singing sensation. The movie is filled with many of the great billie holiday songs, and ross handles them in an interesting way. Feb 20, 2012 the essence of billie holiday,one of americas most loved and memorable singers,is captured brilliantly in a tourdeforce debut performance by singer diana ross. Casting a shadow over even holiday s brightest moments is the. Billie holiday lady sings the blues billie holiday on. Diana ross sings good morning heartache in lady sings the. Lady sings the blues few voices in recorded music are as immediately distinctive and arresting as that of lady day. Watch lady sings the blues online stream full movie directv. Lady sings the blues is a 1972 film about jazz singer billie holiday based on her 1956 autobiography which, in turn, took its title from one of holiday s most popular songs. With diana ross, billy dee williams, richard pryor, james t. But of all the pimps, players, and leeches she hooked up with, only her husband louis mckay was lucky enough to serve as technical advisor on lady sings the blues, the 1972 featurefilm. She doesnt sing in her own style, and she never tries to imitate holiday, but she sings somehow in the manner of holiday.
Diana ross sings billie holiday and a superstar is born. Lady sings the blues is the soundtrack to the billie holiday biopic of the same name, which starred diana ross in her screen debut in 1972. Lady sings the blues was taken from sessions taped during 1954 and 1956. Lady sings the blues shes got them bad she feels so sad wants the world to know just what the blues is all about. Beginning with holiday s traumatic youth, the film depicts her early attempts at a singing career and. Lady sings the blues is a song written by jazz singer billie holiday, and jazz pianist herbie nichols. Among the billie holiday standards performed by ross are my man. Billie holidays bio, lady sings the blues, may be full of lies, but it. Lady sings the blues by billie holiday, william dufty. Throughout her life, billie holiday was preyed upon by an endless succession of cruel, parasitic men. See more ideas about lady sings the blues, billie holiday and lady. Beginning with holiday s traumatic youth, the film depicts her early attempts at a singing career and her eventual rise to stardom, as well as her difficult relationship with louis mckay billy dee williams, her boyfriend and manager. Also she is the first jazz artist who sang at the carnaggie hall as a none classic artist. It was holidays last album released on clef records.
Billie holiday received several esquire magazine awards during her lifetime. Mom and pop were just a couple of kids when they got married. Beginning with holidays traumatic youth, the film depicts her early attempts at a singing career and her eventual rise to stardom, as well as her difficult relationship with louis mckay billy dee williams. Oscarwinning actor adolphe ceasar solider story narrates the classic and original movie trailer for the hit film lady sings the blues. Watch the video for lady sings the blues from billie holidays the complete verve studio master takes for free, and see the artwork, lyrics and similar artists.
Through this difficulty, she dreamed of becoming a jazz singer. Lady sings the blues is ostensibly billie holidays autobiography. Duftys writing style is good enough to make the reader feel they are reading lady day telling us her story. There are rare clips from various unidentified tv appearances, plus clips from the few films she appeared in. It was holiday s last album released on clef records. Holiday s own account of her life was filled with fabrications that the screenwriters blithely took at face value. Lady sings the blues is a 1972 film about jazz singer billie holiday based on her 1956 autobiography which, in turn, took its title from one of holidays most popular songs. This movie is about the legendary blues singer billie holiday from when she was a teenager till her tragic way too early death. The lady sings the blues soundtrack went on to a 54week stay on the us chart, and proof that it sparked new interest in billies work came with the appearance of no fewer than three holiday. Lady sings the blues is ostensibly billie holiday s autobiography.
First off, this is not the dvd of the diana ross movie lady sings the blues. The blues aint nothing but a pain in your heart when you get a bad start when you and your man have to part. However, it was actually ghostwritten by william dufty. Lady sings the blues is the fiercely honest, noholdsbarred autobiography of billie holiday, the legendary jazz, swing, and standards singing sensation. Lady sings the blues 1972 lady sings the blues 1972. Lady sings the blues 1972 diana ross as billie holiday. Some stole her money, while others viciously abused her. Lady sings the blues is the title track of billie holidays 1956 album written by holiday and noted jazz pianist herbie nichols. I pondered this question for the longest time, and remained disappointed in diana ross until the very first moments of lady sings the blues, which play like a jazz tune that seems, at first, to make no sense until you as the listener finally tune into the music which actually made sense all along. Born elinore harris, billie holiday had a difficult teen and young adulthood period, which included working in brothels, both as a cleaning woman and a prostitute, and being raped. Diana ross is amazing in this i agree with ebert, she never tries to imitate billy holiday but she never fails to become her.
Taking the reader on a fastmoving journey from holidays roughandtumble baltimore childhood where she ran errands at a whorehouse in exchange for the chance to listen to louis armstrong. Billie holiday s alleged autobiography, coauthored with hack writer william f. Billie holidays autobiography, lady sings the blues, begins with one of the great alltime leads. God bless the child billie holiday photo by hugh bell see more.
Diana ross as billie holiday in lady sings the blues for her performance as billie holiday, diana ross became only the second african american woman to receive an academy award nomination for best actress in a motion picture. Jun 24, 2011 oscarwinning actor adolphe ceasar solider story narrates the classic and original movie trailer for the hit film lady sings the blues starring diana ross, billy dee williams and richard pryor. Taken from a pair of sessions taped during 19551956, lady sings the blues finds holiday in top form and backed by the sympathetic likes of tenor saxophonist paul quinichette, trumpeters charlie shavers and harry edison, pianist wynton kelly, and guitarists kenny burrell and barney kessel. This movie is guilty of falling into typical biopic. Sep 18, 2006 billie holiday s autobiography, lady sings the blues, begins with one of the great alltime leads. Pop star diana ross portrays legendary jazz singer billie holiday in this biographical drama. Lady sings the blues dvd the essence of billie holiday, one of americas most loved and memorable blues singers, is captured brilliantly in a tourdeforce d ebut perfor mance by singer diana ross.
The film takes several liberties with the 44year existence of lady day. Beginning with holidays traumatic youth, the film depicts her early attempts at a singing career and her eventual rise to stardom, as well as her difficult relationship with louis mckay billy dee williams, her boyfriend and manager. Furie about jazz singer billie holiday, loosely based on her 1956. Lady sings the blues 1972 diana ross as billie holiday imdb.
This book has musical notes pianovocalguitar artist songbook. Oscarwinning actor adolphe ceasar solider story narrates the classic and original movie trailer for the hit film lady sings the blues starring diana ross, billy dee williams and richard pryor. She has the most saddest, mellow voice in jazz history. Lady sings the blues arranged by, clarinet tony scott 2 bass aaron bell drums lennie mcbrowne guitar kenny burrell piano wynton kelly saxophone tenor paul quinichette trumpet charlie shavers vocals billie holiday written by holidaynichols writtenby holiday, nichols a2. It is the title song to her 1956 album, released on clefverve records mgc 721verve mv 2047.
614 1005 1637 194 1060 893 484 1255 778 394 536 89 507 1090 582 138 1653 567 732 826 89 273 1468 1492 768 982 462 1303 1492 385 589 132 208 1250 54 531 1