As you know from my many previous posts on Billie Holiday, I am a huge advocate for her and her work. But it always amazes me that sometimes when other people say that they are advocates for Billie, they unwittingly deprive her of any agency whatsoever. For example, the common claim that she had nothing to do with her autobiography is false, as I will show. Why do so many authors find that idea appealing? I guess they are trying to show how people took advantage of her, how unfair they were to her. But in the process they make her seem to be oblivious of what’s going on around her, in effect to be kind of dim-witted. In fact, she was brilliant, not dim-witted, and
So fascinating. Dufty is an interesting character. Worked in the labor movement and later on became a proponent of macrobiotic nutrition. His wife at the time of the writing was Maely Bartholomew. A holocaust survivor who was close friend of Billie’s. I recall she was a political activist. Maely and Dufty divorced. Their son Bevan is currently a San Francisco city supervisor.
Great work Lewis! There is more to the friendship of Billie and Maely. I think some of us like to stick to the fallen hero life story of Billie but it’s not the truth let alone the whole story. She triumphed over many hardships. Billie was a brave person.
I haven't read Szwed's book so it may be in there, but do you know the story of why Gilbert Millstein was chosen to read the book excerpts at the 1956 Carnegie Hall concert and who programmed the concert to be another autobiography of sorts?
In her time and after, she has been portrayed as a victim of her circumstances, but when it came to shaping her career and public image, she had her thing together....
Thanks Lewis! As usual always on it.
So fascinating. Dufty is an interesting character. Worked in the labor movement and later on became a proponent of macrobiotic nutrition. His wife at the time of the writing was Maely Bartholomew. A holocaust survivor who was close friend of Billie’s. I recall she was a political activist. Maely and Dufty divorced. Their son Bevan is currently a San Francisco city supervisor.
Great work Lewis! There is more to the friendship of Billie and Maely. I think some of us like to stick to the fallen hero life story of Billie but it’s not the truth let alone the whole story. She triumphed over many hardships. Billie was a brave person.
I will be playing a recording Billie and Artie Shaw at the next meeting
Was Herbie Nichols' song title changed before, or after, the book was titled?
I haven't read Szwed's book so it may be in there, but do you know the story of why Gilbert Millstein was chosen to read the book excerpts at the 1956 Carnegie Hall concert and who programmed the concert to be another autobiography of sorts?
In her time and after, she has been portrayed as a victim of her circumstances, but when it came to shaping her career and public image, she had her thing together....