Strange Fruit

Subject: Strange Fruit
From: Fiolar
Date: 23 May 01 - 05:39 AM

Thought folks might like to know that Karan Casey has a rendition of the old Billie Holiday number "Strange Fruit" on her new CD "The Winds Begin to Sing" on the Shanachie label number 78044.

Subject: RE: Strange Fruit
From: Suffet
Date: 23 May 01 - 07:26 PM

"Strange Fruit" was written by Abel Meeropol, who wrote the song under the pseudonym Lewis Allan. Josh White sang the song before Billie Holiday added it to her own repertoire. She probably learned it from hearing Josh White at Cafe Society in New York City in the late 1930s.

--- Steve

Subject: RE: Strange Fruit
From: Mudlark
Date: 23 May 01 - 10:15 PM

This is a great song...goose bumps when Josh White does it....I have it on ancient vinyl....I thot he wrote it. Anybody have any info on the composer? His name sounds Dutch...

Mudlark

Subject: RE: Strange Fruit
From: Sorcha
Date: 23 May 01 - 10:18 PM

There is a little bit of bio here, also, there was a thread on this song not too long ago. Try using the DT and Forum search box (the white one on the left side of the main forum page) with the words Strange Fruit.

Subject: RE: Strange Fruit
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 23 May 01 - 11:01 PM

The thread is here. Scroll down to Joe Offer's post, in which he gives the entire text of the article. Amazing.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Strange Fruit
From: GUEST,Mike
Date: 23 May 01 - 11:52 PM

There is a book out tiltled "Strange Fruit" which describes the history of the song. The song was banned in many clubs and Billie Holiday was forbidden to sing it at those engagemdnts. It's an interesting history paralleling part of american history. Abe Meerepol who wrote the song was also one of the adoptive parents of the children of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg after they were executed in 1953.

Subject: RE: Strange Fruit
From: Suffet
Date: 24 May 01 - 06:32 AM

To GUEST Mike: Are you, by any chance, Robbie's brother? If so, I would just like to let you know that I have a copy of the book the two of you wrote together and I really find it fascinating. It is clearly a labor of love. Good job! If not, then I'm sorry if this comment is confusing.

--- Steve