HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Billie Holiday

Birth of Swing Jazz: Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday

Born Eleanora Fagan on 7 April 1915 in Philadelphia, jazz singer, Billie Holiday (aka Lady Day) had became a prostitute in Harlem at age fourteen ($5 per, which wasn't cheap at the time). Her mother was also a brothel worker. Upon beginning to sing in Harlem nightclubs Eleanora changed her name to Billie after Billie Dove, an actress she admired. She changed her last name to that of her father's performing name, Clarence Holiday, he a jazz guitarist who had abandoned her at birth. She was fourteen in 1929 when she first collaborated with tenor sax man, Kenneth Hollan. While working a slew of clubs in NYC she happened to reconnect with her father in 1931, he working with Fletcher Henderson at the time.

Holiday began her recording career in 1931 at age eighteen with Benny Goodman. 'Your Mother's Son-In-Law', 'Keep On Doin' What You're Doin'', 'Riffin' the Scotch', et al, weren't overly popular. The first two titles sold 300 and 5000 copies respectively. But that worried not John Hammond, the record producer largely responsible for her discovery and initiation to the greater jazz scene. As he had with Goodman, Hammond paired Holiday with pianist and bandleader, Teddy Wilson, in 1935. Their first recordings together that year were 'I Wished on the Moon', 'What a Little Moonlight Can Do', 'Miss Brown to You' and 'A Sunbonnet Blue'. Wilson was key to helping Holiday run her own orchestra, and backed her with his own continuously into the forties. Holiday also appeared in her first film in 1935, Duke Ellington's 'Symphony in Black'.

'Your Mother's Son in Law' Billie Holiday w Benny Goodman and His Orchestra

Holiday's first recording

27 Nov 1933 in NYC Matrix w152568-3 Columbia 2856-D

Trumpet: Charlie Teagarden / Shirley Clay

Trombone: Jack Teagarden Clarinet: Benny Goodman

Clarinet / Alto sax: Woody Herman

Tenor sax: Art Karle Piano: Joe Sullivan Guitar: Dick McDonough

Bass: Artie Bernstein Drums: Gene Krupa Arrangement: Arthur Schutt

Music: Alberta Nichols Lyrics: Mann Holiner

'Riffin' the Scotch' Billie Holiday w Benny Goodman and His Orchestra

From Holiday's second recording session

18 Dec 1933 in NYC Matrix 152650-2 Columbia 2867-D

Arrangement: Deane Kincaide

Composition: Fred Buck / Benny Goodman / Dick McDonough / Johnny Mercer

'I've Got Those Lost My Man Blues' Billie Holiday w Duke Ellington and His Orchestra

From the film 'Symphony in Black' recorded Oct 1934 in Astoria NY

Released by Paramount Pictures 13 Sep 1935

IMDb Library of Congress Wikipedia

'I Wished on the Moon' Billie Holiday w Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra

Holiday's first recording w Teddy Wilson

2 July 1935 in NYC Matrix B17766-1 Brunswick 7501 / Columbia CL637

Trumpet: Roy Eldridge Clarinet: Benny Goodman

Tenor sax: Ben Webster Piano: Teddy Wilson Guitar: John Trueheart

Bass: John Kirby Drums: Cozy Cole

Music: Ralph Rainger Lyrics: Dorothy Parker

'Miss Brown to You' Billie Holiday w Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra

2 July 1935 in NYC Matrix B17768-1 Brunswick 7501 / Columbia CL637

Trumpet: Roy Eldridge Clarinet: Benny Goodman

Tenor sax: Ben Webster Piano: Teddy Wilson Guitar: John Trueheart

Bass: John Kirby Drums: Cozy Cole

Music: Richard Whiting / Ralph Rainger Lyrics: Leo Robin

'I Cried for You' Billie Holiday w Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra

30 June 1936 in NYC Matrix B19498-2 Brunswick 7729

Trumpet: Jonah Jones Alto sax: Johnny Hodges

Baritone sax: Harry Carney Piano: Teddy Wilson Guitar: Lawrence "Larry" Lucie

Bass: John Kirby Drums: Cozy Cole

Music: Gus Arnheim / Abe Lyman Lyrics: Arthur Freed

It was 1936 when Holiday's release of 'Summertime' reached #12 on Billboard [Music VF]. That was Holiday's overall third best-selling title [TsorT]. Her second was 'Strange Fruit' in 1939 prior to her highest in 1941, 'God Bless the Child'. Neither of those rose to a top ten position on Billboard when they were issued, #16 and #25 respectively, but seven other of Holiday's releases scaled to the Top Ten (my convention):

   A Fine Romance   #9   1936
   No Regrets   #9   1936
   A Sailboat in the Moonlight   #10   1937
   Getting Some Fun Out of Life   #10   1937
   I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm   #4   1937
   I'm Gonna Lock My Heart   #2   1938
   Lover Man   #5 R&B   1945

Holiday had recorded 'Summertime' on 10 July 1936 in her own name with her own orchestra which Wilson helped her to operate. Her first name session was also her initial with clarinetist, Artie Shaw. Shaw would back Holiday numerously, including with his own band, into the fifties. Holiday's first name title was 'Did I Remember?' followed by 'No Regrets', 'Summertime' and 'Billie's Blues'.

'Summertime' Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra

From Holiday's first name session w her own orchestra

10 July 1936 in NYC Matrix 19537-1 Vocalion 3288

Trumpet: Bunny Berigan Clarinet: Artie Shaw

Piano: Joe Bushkin Guitar: Dick McDonough

Bass: Pete Peterson Drums: Cozy Cole

Music: George Gershwin Lyrics: DuBose Heyward 1934

'Pennies From Heaven' Billie Holiday w Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra

From Holiday's first name session w her own orchestra

19 Nov 1936 in NYC

1 of 2 takes issued on either Brunswick 7789 or Columbia / Legacy C3K 47724 (CD)

Trumpet: Jonah Jones Clarinet: Benny Goodman

Tenor sax: Ben Webster Piano: Teddy Wilson Guitar: Allan Reuss

Bass: John Kirby Drums: Cozy Cole

Music: Arthur Johnston Lyrics: Johnny Burke

Come Lester Young with whom Holiday first recorded with Wilson on January 25, 1937, in NYC ('He Ain't Got Rhythm' among four). Young and Holiday would collaborate continuously for years to come.

'Born to Love' Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra

15 June 1937 in NYC Matrix 21251-1 Vocalion 3605

Trumpet: Buck Clayton Clarinet: Edmond Hall Tenor sax: Lester Young

Piano: James Sherman Guitar: Freddie Green

Bass: Walter Page Drums: Joe Jones

Music: M. K. Jerome Lyrics: Jack Scholl

Count Basie began backing Billie in 1937, they first recording together at a Savoy Ballroom radio broadcast on June 30 ('The You and Me That Used to Be', et al). They would record numerously together to as late as 'Stormy Weather' at Carnegie Hall on May 6, 1955.

'Swing, Brother, Swing' Billie Holiday w Count Basie and His Orchestra

Holiday's first known recordings w Basie

Radio broadcast 30 June 1937 from the Savoy Ballroom in NYC

Vocalion / OKeh 5129

Trumpet: Buck Clayton

Trombone: Ed Lewis / Bobby Moore / Eddie Durham / George Hunt / Dan Minor

Alto sax: Earl Warren / Jack Washington (baritone)

Tenor sax: Herschel Evans / Lester Young (clarinet)

Piano: Count Basie Guitar: Freddie Green

Bass: Walter Page Drums: Papa Jo Jones

Composition: Walter Bishop / Clarence Williams / Lewis Raymond

'He's Funny That Way' Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra

Sep 1937 in NYC Matrix 21689-1 Vocalion 3748 / Columbia C3L-40

Trumpet: Buck Clayton Clarinet: Buster Bailey Tenor sax: Lester Young

Piano: Claude Thornhill Guitar: Freddie Green

Bass: Walter Page Drums: Papa Jo Jones

Music: Neil Moret Lyrics: Richard Whiting

'I'll Never Be the Same' Billie Holiday w Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra

1 June 1937 in NYC Matrix B21219-2 Brunswick 7926 / Decatur 507 / Columbia C3L21

Music: Matty Malneck / Frank Signorelli 1931 Lyrics: Gus Kahn

'You Go to My Head' Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra

11 May 1938 in NYC Matrix 22921-1 Vocalion 4126

Trumpet: Charlie Shavers Clarinet: Buster Bailey Tenor sax: Babe Russin

Piano: Claude Thornhill Bass: Walter Page Drums: Cozy Cole

Music: John Frederick Coots Lyrics: Haven Gillespie

'Dream of Life' Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra

20 Jan 1939 in NYC Matrix 23993-1 Vocalion 4631 / Columbia C3L-21

Trumpet: Charlie Shavers Trombone: Tyree Glenn Tenor sax: Chu Berry

Piano: Sonny White Guitar: Al Casey

Bass: Johnny Williams Drums: Cozy Cole

Composition: Luther Henderson / Carmen McRae

'Long Gone Blues' Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra

21 March 1939 in NYC Matrix W24249-1 Columbia 37586

Trumpet: Hot Lips Page Alto / soprano sax: Tab Smith

Tenor sax: Kenneth Hollon / Stanley Payne

Piano: Kenny Kersey Guitar: Jimmy McLin

Bass: Johnny Williams Drums: Eddie Dougherty

Composition: Holiday

'Strange Fruit' Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra

20 April 1939 in NYC 1 of 2 takes issued on either Commodore K23P-6612 or Commodore 526

Trumpet: Frankie Newton Alto / soprano sax: Tab Smith

Tenor sax: Kenneth Hollon / Stanley Payne

Piano: Sonny White Guitar: Jimmy McLin

Bass: Johnny Williams Drums: Eddie Dougherty

Composition: Abel Meeropol

It was 1940 while performing at Kelly's Stable when Holiday began to wear her trademark white gardenias. Having singed her hair with a curling iron, she was purchased a large white gardenia from a nearby nightclub by another performer, also a singer, and the damage rendered lovely. Her first takes of 'God Bless the Child' arrived in May of 1941. Her lyrics to this were inspired by an argument about money during which she spoke "God bless the child that's got his own" to her mother.

'God Bless the Child' Billie Holiday w Eddie Heywood and His Orchestra

9 May 1941 in NYC 1 of 4 takes all issued variously

Trumpet: Roy Eldridge Alto sax: Jimmy Powell / Lester Boone

Tenor sax: Ernie Powell Piano: Eddie Heywood Sr. Guitar: Paul Chapman

Bass: Grachan Moncur Drums: Herbert Cowans

Composition: Arthur Herzog Jr. / Holiday

'Gloomy Sunday' ('Hungarian Suicide Song')

Billie Holiday w Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra

9 May 1941 in NYC 1 of 4 takes all issued variously

Trumpet: Emmett Berry Alto sax: Hymie Schertzer

Tenor sax: Jimmy Hamilton (clarinet) / Babe Russin

Piano: Teddy Wilson Guitar: Al Casey

Bass: Johnny Williams Drums: J.C. Heard

Composition: Rezső Seress 1933

'Lover Man' Billie Holiday w Toots Camarata and His Orchestra

4 Oct 1944 in NYC Matrix 72404-A Decca 23391

Trumpet: Russ Case Alto sax: Hymie Schertzer / Jack Cressey

Tenor sax: Larry Binyon / Paul Ricci

Piano: Dave Bowman Guitar: Carl Kress

Bass: Haig Stephens Drums: Johnny Blowers

Composition: Jimmy Davis / Jimmy Sherman / Roger Ramirez 1941

Holiday had been largely dependent on nightclub performances to make a living, earning royalties on record sales for nigh nothing until signing to Decca in 1944. Once asked what was her favorite song in her repertoire, she replied 'No More' recorded for Decca.

'No More' Billie Holiday w Toots Camarata and His Orchestra

4 Oct 1944 in NYC 1 of 2 takes issued on either Decca 23391 or GRD2-601 (CD)

Trumpet: Russ Case Alto sax: Hymie Schertzer / Jack Cressey

Tenor sax: Larry Binyon / Paul Ricci

Piano: Dave Bowman Guitar: Carl Kress

Bass: Haig Stephens Drums: Johnny Blowers

Music: Salvador "Tutti" Camarata Lyrics: Bob Russell 1944

'Good Morning Heartache' Billie Holiday w Bill Stegmeyer and His Orchestra

22 Jan 1946 in NYC Matrix W73300-A Decca 23676

Trumpet: Chris Griffin / Joe Guy Alto sax: Hymie Schertzer / Jack Cressey

Tenor sax: Bill Stegmeyer / Hank Ross / Bernie Kaufman / Armand Camgross

Piano: Joe Springer Guitar: Tiny Grimes

Bass: John Simmons Drums: Sidney Catlett

Composition: Irene Higginbotham / Ervin Drake / Dan Fisher

'The Blues Are Brewin'' Billie Holiday w Louis Armstrong et al Film

Sometime 11 Sep-Oct 1946 for the film 'New Orleans' released 18 April 1947

Composition: Louis Alter / Eddie DeLange

By the latter forties Holiday was finally making big money via royalties in combination with more than a thousand dollars a week to play nightclubs. But she had acquired a taste for heroin which got her incarcerated in 1947 for several months at Alderson Federal Prison Camp in West Virginia on a narcotics charge. The month of her release in March 1948 she played Carnegie Hall.

'I Loves You Porgy' Billie Holiday w Bobby Tucker and His Trio

10 Dec 1948 in NYC Matrix W74652-A Decca 24638

Composition: George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin

'These Foolish Things' Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra

C May 1952 in Los Angeles Matrix YBC769-3 Clef 89002

Piano: Oscar Peterson Guitar: Barney Kessel

Bass: Ray Brown Drums: Alvin Stoller

Composition: Will Hudson / Irving Mills / Eric Maschwitz

'Moonglow' Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra

C May 1952 in Los Angeles Matrix YBC786-4 Clef MGC-690

Trumpet: Charlie Shavers Tenor sax: Flip Phillips

Piano: Oscar Peterson Guitar: Barney Kessel

Bass: Ray Brown Drums: Alvin Stoller

Composition: Will Hudson / Irving Mills / Eric Maschwitz

'Yesterdays' Billie Holiday and Her Lads of Joy

27 July 1952 in NYC Matrix YBC842-2 Clef 89037

Tenor sax: Paul Quinichette

Organ: Oscar Peterson Guitar: Freddie Green

Bass: Ray Brown Drums: Gus Johnson

Composition: Jerome Kern / Otto Harbach

'I Can't Face the Music' Billie Holiday and Her Lads of Joy

27 July 1952 in NYC Matrix YBC844-3 Clef 89096

Trumpet: Joe Newman Tenor sax: Paul Quinichette

Piano: Oscar Peterson Guitar: Freddie Green

Bass: Ray Brown Drums: Gus Johnson

Composition: Rube Bloom / Ted Koehler

Holiday first visited Europe in January of 1954 where she recorded with the Carl Drinkard Trio in Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and London. She would see England again in 1959 to there perform again in London on television.

'I Cover the Waterfront' Billie Holiday w the Carl Drinkard Trio

22 Jan 1954 radio broadcast of 'Jazz Club USA' from Cologne, Germany [Lord]

WDR / Jazzline N77015 (CD)

Piano: Carl Drinkard Bass: Red Mitchell Drums: Elaine Leighton

Music: Johnny Green Lyrics: Edward Heyman 1933

'Stormy Blues' Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra

3 Sep 1954 in Los Angeles Matrix YBC1938-3 Clef 89141

Trumpet: Harry "Sweets" Edison Alto sax: Willie Smith

Piano: Bobby Tucker Guitar: Barney Kessel

Bass: Red Callender Drums: Chico Hamilton

Composition: Holiday

'Lover Man' Billie Holiday w Count Basie and His Orchestra

25 Sep 1954 at Carnegie Hall in NYC Roulette RE-127

Trumpet: Thad Jones / Reunald Jones / Wendell Culley / Joe Newman

Trombone: Bill Hughes / Henry Coker / Benny Powell

Piano: Memry Midgett Guitar: Freddie Green

Bass: Eddie Jones Drums: Gus Johnson

Composition: Jimmy Davis / Jimmy Sherman / Roger Ramirez

'I'll Be Seeing You' Billie Holiday w Chico Hamilton

10 Nov 1956 at Carnegie Hall in NYC Verve MV-2118 (Japan) / Verve 2304117 (Europe)

Trumpet: Buck Clayton Clarinet: Tony Scott Tenor sax: Al Cohn

Piano: Carl Drinkard Guitar: Kenny Burrell

Bass: Carson Smith Drums: Chico Hamilton

Music: Sammy Fain Lyrics: Irving Kahal 1938

Holiday published her memoir, 'Lady Sings the Blues', in 1956 (ghostwritten by 'New York Post' editor William Duffy). To accompany the book she issued the LP, 'Lady Sings the Blues' the same year, also playing two more engagements at Carnegie Hall. 'One for My Baby' was one of the last titles that Holiday recorded with pianist, Jimmy Rowles, in January of 1957. Rowles had supported Holiday on multiple occasions since their first on 1 June of 1942 in the band of Lee and Lester Young.

'Lady Sings the Blues' Billie Holiday w Tony Scott and His Orchestra

From the album 'Lady Sings the Blues'

Album recorded 6/7 June 1956 in NYC Matrix YBC2854-4 Clef MGC-721

Trumpet: Charlie Shavers Clarinet: Tony Scott (arrangement)

Tenor sax: Paul Quinichette

Piano: Wynton Kelly Guitar: Kenny Burrell

Bass: Aaron Bell Drums: Lennie McBrowne

Composition: Herbie Nichols / Holiday

'One For My Baby' Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra

8 Jan 1957 in Los Angeles See 'Songs For Distingué Lovers' on Verve Records MG VS-6021

Trumpet: Harry "Sweets" Edison Tenor sax: Ben Webster

Piano: Jimmy Rowles Guitar: Barney Kessel

Bass: Red Mitchell Drums: Alvin Stoller

Music: Harold Arlen Lyrics: Johnny Mercer

In early March of 1959 Holiday made her final studio recordings. Intended for release on an album called 'Billie Holiday', it was retitled to 'Last Recording' upon its release in latter July. From April 20 to April 26 she recorded tracks while broadcasting on radio with a trio of Tony Scott (clarinet), Mal Waldron (piano) and Papa Jo Jones (drums) at the Storyville Club in Boston. Those saw later issue in 1978 on 'Giants 3: Duke Ellington | Billie Holiday | Louis Armstrong'. A couple of unissued tracks followed on 25 May with a trio of Waldron, Champ Jones (bass) and Roy Haynes (drums) at the Phoenix Theatre in Greenwich Village. Those were 'Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do' and 'I Can't Get Started'.

'All of You' Billie Holiday w Ray Ellis and His Orchestra

From the album 'Last Recording' recorded 3-11 March 1959 MGM SE-3764

Trumpet: Harry "Sweets" Edison / Joe Wilder Trombone: Billy Byers

Tenor sax: Al Cohn Bass sax: Danny Bank

Piano: Hank Jones Guitar: Barry Galbraith

Bass: Milt Hinton Drums: Osie Johnson Arrangement: Ray Ellis

Composition: Cole Porter

It was reportedly yet May when Holiday was taken to the hospital with liver and heart disease where she was arrested a second time for narcotics and her room placed under police guard until her death a couple weeks later on July 17 [obit]. Holiday had spent no small sum on drugs during her time. Adding to the damage done by chemicals were racial abuse by white folk and financial swindling to the tune of a total cash worth of only $750.70 at the time of her death.

Sources & References for Billie Holiday:

Biography

Browse Biography

John Bush (All Music)

Nancy Pear (alt)

Last.fm

VF History (notes)

Wikipedia

Associates Musical: Paulo Novaes

Audio of Holiday: Internet Archive

Autobiography (Lady Sings the Blues / Holiday / Dufty / 1956):

Chapter 1: Some Other Spring Jesse Hamlin Wikipedia