In Part 1 (see the Index), we examined some of the common arguments that are used by authors in and outside of academia to “prove” that Holiday was not responsible for the content of her book Lady Sings the Blues. We saw that some of the “evidence” is false, some is misleading, and that of all the many authors of writings about Billie, only
Point taken. But, when people have doubted whether she wrote her own autobiography, it’s really the veracity of what’s in the autobiography that they directly or indirectly question?
As pointed out to me by Eddie Henderson, the stories exchanged are just as much jazz as what happens on the bandstand. Thanks for sharing information closer to the truth. Al McKibbon, in an interview with Joe Brazil said about Lady Sings the Blues, "Her book? Well the book was fairly true. But, you know, there are so many things that are just better unsaid about a person’s personal life and she didn’t put all those things in the book." For the full interview go to http://joebrazilproject.blogspot.com/2021/05/joe-brazil-interviews-al-mckibbon.html.
Point taken. But, when people have doubted whether she wrote her own autobiography, it’s really the veracity of what’s in the autobiography that they directly or indirectly question?
As pointed out to me by Eddie Henderson, the stories exchanged are just as much jazz as what happens on the bandstand. Thanks for sharing information closer to the truth. Al McKibbon, in an interview with Joe Brazil said about Lady Sings the Blues, "Her book? Well the book was fairly true. But, you know, there are so many things that are just better unsaid about a person’s personal life and she didn’t put all those things in the book." For the full interview go to http://joebrazilproject.blogspot.com/2021/05/joe-brazil-interviews-al-mckibbon.html.
From this, I logically assume she also wrote the songs she is credited with writing, such as "Billie's Blues" and "God Bless The Child".
Okay, Lewis. Thank you for this.
I haven't read her book and now will buy a copy.
Another fascinating subject covered so completely.
Many thanks,
Gerard