using Strange Fruit for non-profit

Subject: using Strange Fruit for non-profit
From:
Date: 14 Apr 01 - 02:41 PM

Help! My husband is a teacher at a high school, and is starting a film festival for one-minute movies. I've created a one-minute movie based on the first verse of Strange Fruit (recorded by Billie Holliday). Does anyone know who owns the copyright/recording rights to this song so I can get permission to use it for the festival. The school is going to make copies of all the movie entries on a vhs tape for sale, with all proceeds going into the school humanities fund (it's all non-profit use). Please help. Thanks! J. McFarlane

Subject: RE: using Strange Fruit for non-profit
From: Suffet
Date: 14 Apr 01 - 03:05 PM

Strange Fruit was written by Abel Meeropol under the pseudonym Lewis Allen, or sometimes Lewis Allan. My copy of the music says: Copyright 1940 by Edward B. Marks Music Corp. My Billie Holiday LP, Lady Sings the Blues (Clef Records MGC-721), credits the song as follows: (Allan) Edward B. Marks Music Corp. BMI.

I hope this is of some help.

--- Steve

Subject: RE: using Strange Fruit for non-profit
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Apr 01 - 03:40 AM

BMI has "Strange Fruit" listed - you can contact them at http://www.bmi.com for copyright permission information.
We've had some interesting discussions of this haunting song - this one (click) is probably the best one.
-Joe Offer- (e-mail sent)