480

BILLIE HOLIDAY D.S.

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:1,000.00 - 1,500.00 USD
BILLIE HOLIDAY D.S.
<b>480. BILLIE HOLIDAY </b>(1915 - 1959) "Lady Day", American jazz singer who recorded with Benny Goodman and Count Basie, toured with Basie and Artie Shaw, and became an internationally-famous concert and cabaret performer. Holiday is considered to be one of the supreme jazz singers of all time. Fine content typed D.S. "<i>Billie Holiday</i>" on William Dufty letterhead, 1p. 4to., New York, July 22, 1957. Holiday and her biographer <b>WILLIAM DUFTY</b>, set forth the history of her signature song, "Strange Fruit". In full: "<i>We give this statement to clarify the facts about `Strange Fruit'. `Strange Fruit' is an original composition by Lewis Allan who is the sole author of `Strange Fruit'. It was introduced to Billie Holiday by Barney Josephson and Mr. Allan in February of 1939. This is the first time she had heard it or seen it. She introduced it later at Café Society. She had not known of the song before then</i>". Boldly signed by Holiday and Dufty at conclusion. One file hole at top, else very good to fine. The song had a strong anti-racism message, with a very clear reference to lynching. Its opening verse is: "Southern trees bear strange fruit, Blood on the leaves and blood at the root, Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees...". Holiday's label, Columbia, refused to publish the song due to its controversial nature, but the singer eventually succeeded in recording it for a smaller label, and the song soon became one of her most popular hits. <b>$1,000-1,500</b>