"With few exceptions, every major pop singer in the US during her generation has been touched in some way by her genius. It is Billie Holiday who was, and still remains, the greatest single musical influence on me." - Frank Sinatra
The great Billie Holiday! According to jazz critic Will Friedwald, there is a ''Mount Rushmore'' of jazz and pop singers: Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day and Sarah Vaughn. According to Friedwald, the men on the mountain are Bing Crosby, Nat ''King'' Cole, Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra.
@nosamici I'd add Bessie Smith and Dinah Washington to the women and Louis Armstrong and Billy Eckstein to the men. There's no way you can add Bing Crosby and leave out Louis Armstrong, the great innovator of Jazz singing. Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Bing Crosby's biggest influence was Louis Armstong. Sinatra's biggest influence was Billie Holiday. That's from the horses mouth, so the trail leads all the way back to Louis Armstrong (and Bessie Smith). That critic should know better.
@bolder2009: I believe that people who think about it for a moment will realize that Louis Armstrong was the single greatest, most important, influence in the 20th century on the whole of popular music. I think Friedwald would probably agree, even if he does not think of Armstrong as a singer in the same sense the others named are regarded as singers. Friedwald is currently the music critic for the Wall Street Journal. Several interviews with him can be found on the internet by googling him.
@nosamici I agree. I think its a shame that the curators of popular culture have such short memories. Louis Armstrong is like the Genghis Khan of 20th century American popular music. His influence is everywhere, whether people recognise it or not. I've read some of Freidwald reviews, but I always try to do as much of my own research as possible, because too many injustices have been commited against historical accuracy and truth.
@nosamici "Louis is really the tradition, we haven't caught up to it yet. He created our colloquialism. Every musician I know, of worth in popular music, or Jazz music is stung by Louis Armstrong." - Tony Bennet
@bolder2009 I agree whole heartedly with your additions except you left out the most popular jazz singer of the 20th century Al Jolson! And while we are at it lets drop doris day and slip Judy Garland in there.
@jknutbens The most popular Jazz singer of the 20th century was Ella Fitzgerald, without a shadow of doubt, and Louis Armstrong. Yeah you can insert Judy Garland in place of Doris Day.
this is such a great recording ,lady is in top form and lester's great tone which alway's reminds me of sapphires,blue and pure and billie's voice is serving champagne and grits thank the universe for both of them
Oh yes! She's great here on this1940 take and was also up to the midfifties, wherafter she sadly and rapidly declined! The best recordings to my opinion is the one's from the 1930:ies, especially with the great Teddy Wilson and of course Lester Young!
"With few exceptions, every major pop singer in the US during her generation has been touched in some way by her genius. It is Billie Holiday who was, and still remains, the greatest single musical influence on me." - Frank Sinatra
bolder2009 5 months ago
Billie was great in 1930s
edwardconway27 11 months ago
The great Billie Holiday! According to jazz critic Will Friedwald, there is a ''Mount Rushmore'' of jazz and pop singers: Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day and Sarah Vaughn. According to Friedwald, the men on the mountain are Bing Crosby, Nat ''King'' Cole, Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra.
Thanks for posting this wonderful recording!
nosamici 1 year ago
@nosamici I'd add Bessie Smith and Dinah Washington to the women and Louis Armstrong and Billy Eckstein to the men. There's no way you can add Bing Crosby and leave out Louis Armstrong, the great innovator of Jazz singing. Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Bing Crosby's biggest influence was Louis Armstong. Sinatra's biggest influence was Billie Holiday. That's from the horses mouth, so the trail leads all the way back to Louis Armstrong (and Bessie Smith). That critic should know better.
bolder2009 5 months ago
@bolder2009: I believe that people who think about it for a moment will realize that Louis Armstrong was the single greatest, most important, influence in the 20th century on the whole of popular music. I think Friedwald would probably agree, even if he does not think of Armstrong as a singer in the same sense the others named are regarded as singers. Friedwald is currently the music critic for the Wall Street Journal. Several interviews with him can be found on the internet by googling him.
nosamici 5 months ago
Comment removed
bolder2009 5 months ago
Comment removed
bolder2009 5 months ago
@nosamici I agree. I think its a shame that the curators of popular culture have such short memories. Louis Armstrong is like the Genghis Khan of 20th century American popular music. His influence is everywhere, whether people recognise it or not. I've read some of Freidwald reviews, but I always try to do as much of my own research as possible, because too many injustices have been commited against historical accuracy and truth.
bolder2009 5 months ago
@nosamici "Louis is really the tradition, we haven't caught up to it yet. He created our colloquialism. Every musician I know, of worth in popular music, or Jazz music is stung by Louis Armstrong." - Tony Bennet
bolder2009 5 months ago
@bolder2009 I agree whole heartedly with your additions except you left out the most popular jazz singer of the 20th century Al Jolson! And while we are at it lets drop doris day and slip Judy Garland in there.
jknutbens 1 month ago
@jknutbens The most popular Jazz singer of the 20th century was Ella Fitzgerald, without a shadow of doubt, and Louis Armstrong. Yeah you can insert Judy Garland in place of Doris Day.
bolder2009 1 month ago
this is such a great recording ,lady is in top form and lester's great tone which alway's reminds me of sapphires,blue and pure and billie's voice is serving champagne and grits thank the universe for both of them
mightybruno 1 year ago 2
Lose all ur blues, laughing at life!
SholaMind21 1 year ago
Ms Holidays music will play forever! RIP Lady Day
lalaa9000 1 year ago
RIP
no junk no soul
snoopyman321 1 year ago
Oh yes! She's great here on this1940 take and was also up to the midfifties, wherafter she sadly and rapidly declined! The best recordings to my opinion is the one's from the 1930:ies, especially with the great Teddy Wilson and of course Lester Young!
She was so great! So I guess
helluvagun 2 years ago
She is on top of her game here
billie44 2 years ago
when you here Billie's voice....it is unmistakeable.
what a fabulous incomparable voice!
scottdemexico 2 years ago 12
In the end, everything is a gag. -Charlie Chaplin
danmarino1970 2 years ago 20
HEY STEPHEN, DON'T FORGET THE GREAT GRAND JOKE! NEVER STOP LAUGHING, ok I'll stop shouting.
empire23 2 years ago
Great post, good to hear some of Billie's earlier work when her voice was in rare form.
leesterg 2 years ago
great, thanks!!
gusynzenga 2 years ago
live for tomorrow, be happie today! Laugh all your sorrows away...Yea great!
rewardless 2 years ago