Lady sings the blues songs written by billie holiday. Diana ross, as billie holiday, in lady sings the blues sorry for the low volume. Diana ross plays the magnificent, tragic song stylist billie holiday, who while writhing in a strait jacket in a prison cell, awaiting sentencing on drug charges, reflects on her turbulent life. What works in the film is how much ross sells it and makes us feel for this young.
Feb 24, 2020 billie holiday was one of the most influential jazz singers of all time. Diana ross as billie holiday in lady sings the blues. Gordon was skeptical, and after he and i went to the waldorf to see diana in concert, he told me he didnt want. Furie about jazz singer billie holiday, loosely based. Arthur phillips features holidays 1953 concert in new york in his novel the song is you 2009my only friend by the magnetic fields is a tribute to billie holiday. Oct 19, 1972 lurid biotrash but wonderful ross as billie holiday. The song also featured as the title track of a movie about holiday s life starring diana ross and has been covered numerous times by the likes of ella fitzgerald, diana ross, and smokey robinson. This is really a movie for diana ross fans or for casual jazz listeners who have never heard of billie holiday. The racisms scene 1972 diana ross as billie holiday.
Billie holiday timeline the official website of billie. The second lp, however, features the studio recordings of several billie holiday. The music is an excellent combination of diana ross as herself, not exactly imitating billie holiday, but incorporating some of her techniques to make holiday s songs recognizable. Two years before the release of lady sings the blues, the writer a reader from new york is praising the fact diana ross will not play the role of billie holiday in the forthcoming film. Lady sings the blues original soundtrack diana ross. Diana ross stars as legendary blues singer billie holiday in this biopic that chronicles her rise and fall. Duftys writing style is good enough to make the reader feel they are reading lady day telling us her story. Billie releases her next full length album, billie holiday, for clef records. Lady sings the blues is ostensibly billie holiday s autobiography.
Diana ross portrayed holiday, alongside a cast including billy dee williams, richard pryor, james. Diana ross licensed to youtube by umg on behalf of motown. Jet letter about diana rossbillie holiday film 121770. Costume worn by diana ross as billie holiday in lady sings. 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.
Lstb is a treat for diana ross fans, and admittedly there are some evocative scenes, but for a holiday fan like myself, its a sham. Raped in her youth by a drunk adolph caesar, then compelled to work as a domestic in a harlem whorehouse, holliday is encouraged to try for a singing career by the bordellos pianist richard pryor. Lady sings the blues songs written by billie holiday the. Diana ross sang it years later in the 1970s film, lady sings the blues. 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. Yes, billie is fast and loose with some facts her mother almost certainly was 18 or 19 when billie was born, not as billie claims. For the 1959 album originally titled billie holiday, see last recording. The biopic about legendary jazz singer billie holiday s life, starring diana ross and billy dee williams, instantly became a love story for all to.
Despite some criticism of her for taking the role, once the film opened in october 1972, ross won critical acclaim for her performance in the film. This site is maintained by the estate of billie holiday. Ross mother diana ross portrayed billie holiday in the 1972 film lady sings the blues, which earned her an oscar nomination for best actress in a leading role. 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. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. Oh, and the grandpa from charles in charge is good, too. Directed by berry gordy, tony richardson, jack wormser.
The event was broadcast on vh1, and featured miss ross inducting billie holiday into the early influence category. The essence of billie holiday, one of americas most loved and memorable blues singers, is captured brilliantly in a tourdeforce debut performance by singer diana ross. Diana ross made her film debut opposite billy dee williams in this romantic biopic. One of diana ross s most startling television performances occurred in march of 2000, during the rock and roll hall of fame induction ceremony. Lady sings the blues 1972 lady sings the blues 1972. Dec 02, 2012 them there eyes from lady sings the blues soundtrack william tracey, maceo pinkard, doris tauber. Lady sings the blues is an album by american jazz vocalist billie holiday released in december 1956.
Diana ross sings billie holiday and a superstar is born. In his introduction to lady sings the blues, professor early said that the film was not particularly accurate in its depiction of the life of billie holiday. Lee daniels in talks to direct billie holiday biopic variety. Sjalvbiografin blev 1972 en film, med diana ross i rollen som billie holiday. 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. In 1972, ross recorded my man again for the soundtrack for the film lady sings the blues, in which she portrayed billie holiday. Through this difficulty, she dreamed of becoming a jazz singer. Diana ross made her film debut in lady sings the blues in october 1972.
The story of the troubled life and career of the legendary jazz singer, billie holiday. Sep 25, 2019 ross mother diana ross portrayed billie holiday in the 1972 film lady sings the blues, which earned her an oscar nomination for best actress in a leading role. She not only got an oscar nomination and more roles, she really did capture the spirit and flavor, if not the sound and timbre, of billie holidays music. Pop star diana ross portrays legendary jazz singer billie holiday in this biographical drama. Lady sings the blues was her first major post supreme project. Jan 05, 2014 one of diana ross s most startling television performances occurred in march of 2000, during the rock and roll hall of fame induction ceremony. Her biggest album as a solo act, diana ross forever ended any association with the supremes after this film. Diana ross portrayed holiday in the film lady sings the blues, which is loosely based on the 1956 autobiography of the same name. 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. The film hints at the racism of the 1930s1950s when holiday performed and attempts. Strange fruit rock and roll hall of fame 2000 induction. I read an interview with diana ross of the supremes in look magazine in which she said she dreamed of playing billie holiday in a movie. Its not as if diana ross floats above the film, always remaining somehow disconnected from it, in that superior way that some actors affect when. Learn more about the many songs written and recorded by billie holiday.
Lady sings the blues 1972 pop star diana ross portrays legendary jazz singer billie holiday in this biographical drama. Winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. Billy dee williams who plays the role of louise mckay in 72 billie dee was 35 years old and he really didnt have much if any movie experience. Filled with the greatest songs of the incomparable lady day, this stunning film biography received five academy award. Her full length album, music for torching, is released for clef records. Jan 29, 2012 some of the songs also come at points during the film where billie holiday is under the influence of drugs, and thus diana ross is not only singing, but acting her way through them. Billie holiday timeline the official website of billie holiday. En av billies hogsta onskningar var att vara med i en film. Gottlieb collection entered into the public domain on february 16, 2010.
Beyond her six month preparation for the role, ross brings to the work her own unique perspective as that of a famous singer. Dec 10, 2016 thought youd all get a kick out of this letter printed in jet magazine 46 years ago this month, on december 17, 1970. Much of holiday s tragic life portrayed in the film. This is a digitized version of an article from the timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Lady sings the blues film by furie 1972 britannica. Some of the songs also come at points during the film where billie holiday is under the influence of drugs, and thus diana ross is not only singing, but acting her way through them. Lee daniels in talks to direct billie holiday biopic, andra day eyed to star exclusive. Lady sings the blues billie holiday album wikipedia. The movie tells the story of the jazz and blues legend, billie holiday from her youth to her late years. The film takes several liberties with the 44year existence of. Born today most popular celebs most popular celebs celebrity news. In deference to the other nominees, every time i watch this film i can only think diana ross was robbed for the oscar for best actress. Lady sings the blues 1972 diana ross as billie holiday imdb. Diana shared the success with billie dee williams, who played the role of louis mckay.
However, it was actually ghostwritten by william dufty. The soundtrack album from the movie became dianas only us no. Ar 1947 gick onskan i uppfyllelse, och hon fick en roll i filmen new orleans. Under such imbecilic circumstances, its not yet possible to tell whether miss ross is a good actress, but shes an actress of. Diana ross discusses lady sings the blues on oprah huffpost. With diana ross, billy dee williams, richard pryor, james t.
As a billie holiday fan, i would love to see a film that explores the gritty and remarkable life of this great artist more raging bull than funny girl. The symbolism of billie holiday center for the humanities. Lady sings the blues shes got them bad she feels so sad wants the world to know. Make her first appearance on the tonight show, hosted by steve allen. Them there eyes from lady sings the blues soundtrack william tracey, maceo pinkard, doris tauber. It was holiday s last album released on clef records. Eleanora fagan april 7, 1915 july 17, 1959, professionally known as billie holiday, was an african american jazz singer with a career spanning nearly thirty years. Tracy, an aspiring designer from the slums of chicago puts herself through fashion school in the hopes of becoming one of the worlds top designers.
Her ambition leads her to rome spurring a choice between the man she loves or her newfound success. I knew she could sing, although not as well as billie holiday and certainly not in the same way, but i couldnt imagine diana ross reaching the emotional highs and lows of one of the more extreme public lives of our time. 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. The song is also the title of the 1972 movie starring diana ross as holiday. Lady sings the blues is a 1972 american biographical drama film directed by sidney j. Billie holiday was one of the most influential jazz singers of all time. The second lp, however, features the studio recordings of several billie holiday songs, and is what ill discuss here.
In 1971, diana ross began working on her first film, lady sings the blues, which was a loosely based biography on singer billie holiday. 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. The choice of miss ross for this task makes perfect sense. With diana ross, billy dee williams, anthony perkins, jeanpierre aumont. Chronicles the rise and fall of legendary blues singer billie holiday. Jet letter about diana rossbillie holiday film 1217. By the late 60s, i was doing the film with cbs films and its astute president, gordon stulberg.
Diana ross sings good morning heartache in lady sings the. If you are lover of diana ross and richard pryor and would love to own a great copy of lady sings the blues here is your spot. Jul 10, 2011 diana ross, as billie holiday, in lady sings the blues sorry for the low volume. Billy dee williams costars as her love interest and richard pryor has a supporting role as a friendly piano player. This billie holiday has what might be called a prescient ear. Two years before the release of lady sings the blues, the writer a reader from new york is praising the fact diana ross will not play the role of billie holiday in the forthcoming film of. The racisms scene 1972 diana ross as billie holiday youtube. Bought the paperback years ago for a couple of dollars but didnt read it until now. Good morning heartache billie holiday diana ross solo. Diana ross plays the magnificent, tragic song stylist billie holiday, who while. Ross started her career as an actress back to 1972 with her role in lady sings the blues. Lady sings the blues is the title track of billie holiday s 1956 album written by holiday and noted jazz pianist herbie nichols.
Singing star diana ross takes a major leap forward in her career by choosing as her first big screen acting role the portrayal of the tragic life of legendary singer billie holiday in lady sings the blues 1972. I wanted to return here to an idea that i was fumbling to express in class on thursday during professor ingrid monsons session on diana ross. It was produced by motown productions for paramount pictures. Beginning with holiday s traumatic youth, the film depicts her early attempts at a singing career and. Please submit questions or licensing requests for the commercial use of her image and likeness via the email links below. Lady sings the blues 1972 diana ross as billie holiday. She had just left the supremes, who had 33 top 40 hits, 23 of them reached the top 10, and 12 of those were numberone on the us pop charts.
Billie holiday, died at the age of 44 and is buried at saint raymonds cemetery in bronx county, ny. Lady sings the blues captures the essence of billie holliday in this semibiographic sketch of the tragic life of the famous blues singer. Diana ross starring as lady day in the film lady sings the blues. Diana ross sings good morning heartache in lady sings. My first reaction when i learned that diana ross had been cast to play billie holiday was a quick and simple one. What i took away from this film, is that diana ross was, in 1972, the biggest pop star in the world and the potential for her seemed limitless. In accordance with the generous wishes of william gottlieb, the photographs in the william p. For her selftitled 1954 album, see billie holiday album. Furie directed this biographical film about billie holiday, starring diana ross who also sings.
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