Mom and Pop were just a couple of kids when they got married. He was eighteen, she was sixteen, and I was three
From Lady sings the blues
Billie Holiday’s story reminds me a lot of the French chansonnier Edith Piaf: both borne on the streets, singing in bars and brothels, discovered, signed to major record companies for their talent, but never really adjusting to the social life of their new surroundings. At heart both of them were from the streets.
Billie Holiday was born Eleanora Fagan, in 1915 in Pennsylvania. She got her last name from her mother, maybe because the father is unknown. Already in 1929 she started singing in bars in Harlem. When in 1932 she replaced another singer in a club in West Manhattan’s she was discovered by producer John Hammond. Hammond is also the producer on this record.
Billie Holiday is one of the few jazz singers that were able to create pop songs as well. This record is a small compilation of these songs, coming from 12 studio albums and 36 singles.