The many faces of billie holiday documentario legendado duration. The movie was based on the autobiography lady sings the blues written by billie holiday and william duffy. Lady sings the blues is an album by american jazz vocalist billie holiday released in december 1956. 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 the official website of billie holiday. It was produced by motown productions for paramount pictures. In the early nineteen thirties, a music producer, john hammond, heard billie. Mom and pop were just a couple of kids when they got married. Casting a shadow over even holiday s brightest moments is the.
Beginning with holidays traumatic youth, the film depicts her early attempts at a singing career and. Lady sings the blues original soundtrack diana ross. Lady sings the blues 1972 pop star diana ross portrays legendary jazz singer billie holiday in this biographical drama. Lady sings the blues is ostensibly billie holidays autobiography. 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. 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.
Like others who knew holiday, the duftys hated the 1972 film lady sings the blues, which starred svelte diana ross as the tough, buxom billie. In nineteen fiftysix, billie holiday wrote a book about her life called lady sings the blues shirley griffith. Jul 10, 2011 diana ross, as billie holiday, in lady sings the blues sorry for the low volume. The blues aint nothing but a pain in your heart when you get a bad start when you and your man have to part. In 1972 diana ross portrayal of holiday in lady sings the blues was nominated for an oscar and won a golden globe. Billie holidays bio, lady sings the blues, may be full of lies, but it. 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. Lady sings the blues is the fiercely honest, noholdsbarred autobiography of billie holiday, the legendary jazz, swing, and standards singing sensation. 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. Lady sings the blues shes got them bad she feels so sad wants the world to know just what the blues is all about.
Lady sings the blues is a song written by jazz singer billie holiday, and jazz pianist herbie nichols. Its a compilation of rare performance footage by the amazingly gifted jazz legend billie holiday herself. There is an uncanny echo, a suggestion, and yet the style is a tribute to billie holiday, not an impersonation. Billie holiday s alleged autobiography, coauthored with hack writer william f. By the time in early 20th century, it was not easy to live as an afro american lady in america. Lady sings the blues 1972 diana ross as billie holiday imdb. Diana ross is amazing in this i agree with ebert, she never tries to imitate billy holiday but she never fails to become her. Lady sings the blues is a 1972 american biographical drama film directed by sidney j. See more ideas about lady sings the blues, billie holiday and lady. The movie is filled with many of the great billie holiday songs, and ross handles them in an interesting way. It is the title song to her 1956 album, released on clefverve records mgc 721verve mv 2047. 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. This movie is about the legendary blues singer billie holiday from when she was a teenager till her tragic way too early death.
Holiday s own account of her life was filled with fabrications that the screenwriters blithely took at face value. Watch lady sings the blues online stream full movie directv. 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. 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. Beginning with holiday s traumatic youth, the film depicts her early attempts at a singing career and. 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. 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. As you know already, this movie is about the legendary jazz blues singer billie hilliday. She doesnt sing in her own style, and she never tries to imitate holiday, but she sings somehow in the manner of holiday. Oscarwinning actor adolphe ceasar solider story narrates the classic and original movie trailer for the hit film lady sings the blues. The film takes several liberties with the 44year existence of lady day.
Lady sings the blues is the movie biopic of the great singer billie holiday. 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. Billie holidays alleged autobiography, coauthored with hack writer william f. 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. Holidays own account of her life was filled with fabrications that the screenwriters blithely took at face value. Through this difficulty, she dreamed of becoming a jazz singer.
Lady sings the blues billie holiday album wikipedia. With diana ross, billy dee williams, richard pryor, james t. 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. Billie holiday was one of the most influential jazz singers of all time. Lady sings the blues 1972 lady sings the blues 1972. Lady sings the blues 1972 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Billie holiday lady sings the blues billie holiday on. 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. Also she is the first jazz artist who sang at the carnaggie hall as a none classic artist. 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. Among the billie holiday standards performed by ross are my man. Lady sings the blues is the title track of billie holidays 1956 album written by holiday and noted jazz pianist herbie nichols. 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. 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.
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. Also highly suspect was the films primary source material. The story of the troubled life and career of the legendary jazz singer, billie holiday. Billie holiday songs from the film lady sings the blues vinyl. Lady sings the blues trailer 1972 music by michel legrand. This movie is guilty of falling into typical biopic. 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. God bless the child billie holiday photo by hugh bell see more. Lady sings the blues 1972 diana ross as billie holiday. Duftys writing style is good enough to make the reader feel they are reading lady day telling us her story. Motown released a hugely successful soundtrack doublealbum of ross recordings of billie holiday songs from the film, also titled lady sings the blues. She has the most saddest, mellow voice in jazz history.
Some stole her money, while others viciously abused her. Lady sings the blues is the noholdsbarred, if somewhat dramatized autobiography of billie holiday, the legendary jazz, swing, and standards singing sensation. Lady sings the blues was taken from sessions taped during 1954 and 1956. It was holidays last album released on clef records. Holiday would go on to be nominated for 23 posthumous grammy awards. Diana ross sings billie holiday and a superstar is born.
There are rare clips from various unidentified tv appearances, plus clips from the few films she appeared in. In deference to the other nominees, every time i watch this film i can only think diana ross was robbed for. Billie holidays autobiography, lady sings the blues, begins with one of the great alltime leads. Diana ross, as billie holiday, in lady sings the blues sorry for the low volume. Throughout her life, billie holiday was preyed upon by an endless succession of cruel, parasitic men. Billie holiday received several esquire magazine awards during her lifetime. 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. Casting a shadow over even holidays brightest moments is the. 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. Sep 18, 2006 billie holiday s autobiography, lady sings the blues, begins with one of the great alltime leads.
However, it was actually ghostwritten by william dufty. 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. 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 ostensibly billie holiday s autobiography. 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. Diana ross sings good morning heartache in lady sings the. It was holiday s last album released on clef records. Lady sings the blues few voices in recorded music are as immediately distinctive and arresting as that of lady day. Lady sings the blues by billie holiday, william dufty. Billie holiday lady sings the blues releases discogs. 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. 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.