Dufty published the holiday book in 1956, and at her death in 1959 wrote. Dufty, a new york post writer and editor then married to holidays close friend maely dufty, wrote the book quickly from a series of conversations with the singer in the duftys 93rd street apartment, drawing on the work of earlier. Lady sings the blues is the title track of billie holidays 1956 album written by holiday and noted jazz pianist herbie nichols. In 1956, renewed public attention came her way with the release of her life story in print, lady sings the blues, a book written by william duffy, although parts of it were later questioned for accuracy. From the very start, billie holiday birth name eleanora fagan, born to thirteen year old sadie fagan and sixteen year old clarence holiday, had a very difficult life.
In nineteen fiftysix, billie holiday wrote a book about her life. Police officers were stationed at the door to her room. Lady sings the blues is the fiercely honest, noholdsbarred autobiography of billie holiday, the legendary jazz, swing, and standards singing sensation. Holiday writes candidly of sexual abuse, confinement to institutions. Both the book, the lady sings the blues, and the play, lady day at emerson bar and grill, tell the story of billie holiday 19151959, an american jazz singer and songwriter. Her addiction to narcotics and alcohol brought about her early death at the age of 44. The life story of jazz singer billie holiday told in her own words.
For the two years i was in the band we had a book of a hundred songs, and every one of us carried every last damn note in our heads. The book formed the basis of the 1972 film lady sings the blues starring diana ross. Other articles where lady sings the blues is discussed. Lady sings the blues is a 1972 american biographical drama film directed by sidney j. Bevan dufty and his mother saw the picture at the old varsity theater in palo alto, now a borders bookstore where bevan bought the new edition of the book. Ghostwritten by the late newspaperman and author william dufty, the. A few months later, she was arrested again for possessing illegal drugs. William dufty was born on february 2, 1916 in grand rapids, michigan, usa. However, it was actually ghostwritten by william dufty. Read this book with the wikipedia article on her open so you can see which. Packed with action, mystery, and heat, lady sings the blues is a thrilling romantic suspense novel full of twists, turns, and surprises. Eleanora fagan, who later took the name billie holiday, was born april 7, 1915, and. This article was most recently revised and updated by alicja zelazko, assistant editor. John szweds briskly revealing book on billie holiday treats the writing of her autobiography, lady sings the blues, as a key event in the singers life.
Holidays autobiography, lady sings the blues, was ghostwritten by william dufty and published in 1956. Diana ross sings good morning heartache in lady sings the. Dufty, who told billie holidays life story in lady sings the blues, helped popularize macrobiotics in america, wrote sugar blues about the evils of processed sugar, and. Billie holiday lady sings the blues lyrics genius lyrics. 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 and bessie smith albums, to her emergence on harlems club scene, to soldout performances with the count basie orchestra and with artie shaw and. In 1956 she wrote an autobiography, lady sings the blues with william dufty, that was made into a motion picture starring diana ross in 1972. She sang mostly popular tunes of the day with her own unique bluesy style. Lady sings the blues by billie holiday with william dufty and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Used items may not include supplementary materials such as cds or access codes. Download pdf lady sings the blues free online new books. Lady sings the blues was taken from sessions taped during 1954 and 1956. 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. Readers will enjoy this shocking love story featuring hot bikers and a strong heroine by author sarah zolton arthur. She was busted for drug possession as she lay dying. Her autobiography, lady sings the blues 1956, was written in collaboration by william dufty. Interesting that the arrangement was also sung by billie.
Like other stories in this frank, funny and compelling book, whats on the. It was holidays last album released on clef records. Lady sings the blues billie holiday, william dufty. He was a writer, known for lady sings the blues 1972, round trip 1967 and reputations 1994. Lady sings the blues by william dufty and billie holiday 2006, paperback, anniversary at the best online prices at ebay. Some of the material in the book, however, must be taken with a grain of salt. The book formed the basis of the 1972 film lady sings the blues starring diana ross overview. Lady sings the blues by holiday, billie, with william dufty and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. On november 10, 1956, in new york city, she gave two concerts at. From the very start, billie holiday birth name eleanora fagan, born to thirteen year old sadie fagan and sixteen year old. 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 holiday.
To date lady sings the blues remains her only oscar nomination. He was married to gloria swanson and maely bartholomew. Kennedy and an article by tom wolfe in new york magazine with starting him on. Holiday writes candidly of sexual abuse, confinement to institutions, heroin addiction, and the struggles of. Ghostwritten by the late newspaperman and author william dufty, the father of san francisco supervisor bevan dufty, lady sings the blues was published three years before holiday died in.
May show signs of minor shelf wear and contain limited. Read an excerpt lady sings the blues the 50th anniversary edition. Her recordings are still reissued, and a film based on her life, lady sings the blues, starring diana ross, was released in 1972. Lady sings the blues by billie holiday overdrive rakuten. 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 billie holiday, william dufty, vincent. Jul 18, 2017 lady sings the blues is an autobiography by jazz singer billie holiday, which was coauthored by william dufty. Holidays health began to fail because of drug and alcohol abuse, and she died in 1959. Lady sings the blues diana ross billy dee williams richard pryor 1972 billie holiday diana ross goes from harlem brothel maid to heroinaddicted singing star, losing the man billy dee williams she loves. Lady sings the blues trailer 1972 music by michel legrand. Lady sings the blues 1956 is an autobiography by jazz singer billie holiday, which was coauthored by william dufty. The story of the troubled life and career of the legendary jazz singer, billie holiday.
Lady sings the blues by billie holiday, william dufty. Lady sings the blues is an autobiography by jazz singer billie holiday, which was coauthored by william dufty. Lady sings the blues by billie holiday, first edition abebooks. Lady sings the blues billie holiday 1st edition hcdj. Dufty took billie holidays oral history and wrote lady sings the blues in 1956, which in turn was made into a 1972 movie starring diana ross in the title role. Billie holidays alleged autobiography, coauthored with hack writer william f. Holidays own account of her life was filled with fabrications that the screenwriters blithely took at face value. One of the major themes has to do with the difficulties of being a black jazz artist in america. Lady sings the blues is a patchwork quilt of anecdotes with no consistent thesis holding it together. Lady sings the blues is ostensibly billie holidays autobiography. To ask other readers questions about lady sings the blues, please sign up.
Apr 03, 2015 john szweds briskly revealing book on billie holiday treats the writing of her autobiography, lady sings the blues, as a key event in the singers life. Originally released by doubleday in 1956, harlem moon classics celebrates the publication with the fiftiethanniversary edition of billie holidays unforgettable and timeless memoir, updated with an insightful introduction and a revised discography, both written by celebrated music writer david ritz. Billie holidays autobiography, lady sings the blues, begins with one of the. Lady sing the blues shes got them bad she feels so sad and wants the world to know just what her blues are all about lady sings the blues she tells her. Buy sugar blues warner books ed by dufty, william isbn.
In lady sings the blues, holiday recalls some of the most resonant memories of her turbulent pastthe good, the mostly bad and the frequently ugly. Dufty s writing style is good enough to make the reader feel they are reading lady day telling us her story. Diana ross sings good morning heartache in lady sings. A friend at the new york post newspaper, william dufty, helped her write the book. Jazz, zangeressen, correspondence, reminiscences, musicians. Coauthor william dufty 19162002 was a music enthusiast, freelance writer for the. Lady sings the blues paperback the 50thanniversay edition with a revised discography harlem moon classics by billie holiday, william dufty, david ritz foreword by. On november 10, 1956, in new york city, she gave two concerts at carnegie hall before packed audiences.
It was produced by motown productions for paramount pictures. Feb 24, 2020 her autobiography, lady sings the blues 1956, was written in collaboration by william dufty. Lady sings the blues by billie holiday, first edition. But instead of going to prison, she was permitted to seek treatment to end her dependence on drugs. Ghostwritten by the late newspaperman and author william dufty, the father of san francisco supervisorbevan dufty, lady sings the blues was published three years before holiday died in a new york hospital at age 44. Duftys writing style is good enough to make the reader feel they are reading lady day telling us her story. Lady sings the blues autobiography by holiday britannica. Lady sings the blues billie holiday 1st edition hcdj rare. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Corregidora celebrating black women writers book 1. Dufty, who told billie holidays life story in lady sings the blues. Billie holidays bio, lady sings the blues, may be full.
Also highly suspect was the films primary source material. Lady sings the blues is the fiercely honest, noholdsbarred autobiography of billie holiday. Billie holidays bio, lady sings the blues, may be full of. 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 holidays bio, lady sings the blues, may be full of lies, but it. Mar 02, 2011 originally released by doubleday in 1956, harlem moon classics celebrates the publication with the fiftiethanniversary edition of billie holidays unforgettable and timeless memoir, updated with an insightful introduction and a revised discography, both written by celebrated music writer david ritz. The 50thanniversay edition with a revised discography. Lady sings the blues by holiday, billie with william dufty and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available. Coauthor william dufty 19162002 was a music enthusiast, freelance writer for the new york post, and gloria swansons last husband. Paperback import, january 31, 1999 by william dufty author. Lady sings the blues by billie holliday and william dufty. Sep 18, 2006 ghostwritten by the late newspaperman and author william dufty, the father of san francisco supervisor bevan dufty, lady sings the blues was published three years before holiday died in a new. With diana ross, billy dee williams, richard pryor, james t.