Any one watch the marvellous documentary on Billie Holiday which was transmitted on BBC television last night (July 31st)? With contributions by a numerous group of friends including Maya Angelou, Annie Ross and Alice Walker, it was a moving appreciation of a great performer who sadly was cut down much too early by her addiction to drink and drugs. She was a tough lady who unfortunately had a masochistic streak. As one of her friends said, "If there were a hundred guys in a room and one was an asshole, she'd go right to that guy." She wasn't afraid of a fight and I liked especially the anecdote regarding the two white guys who when they stubbed out their cigarettes on her fur coat, took the pair of them out to the car-park and beat the bejasus out of them. She was given the affectionate appellation "Lady Day" by one of her friends Lester Young in the 1930s. Apparently he called everybody "Lady" but hers seems to be the only one that has lasted. When she died on July 17th 1959, a grieving colleague said, "she looked like she'd been torn from life."