Billie Holiday on BBC2

Subject: Billie Holiday on BBC2
From: Micca
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 02:22 PM

The New edition of Radio Times says they are showing a documentary next Monday 31 March 03 at 2320 it will include the earliest known footage of her(aged 20) in the film "Symphony in Black" and include also many of her best known songs, Strange Fruit, God Bless the Child, Travellin light, My Man etc.
should be an interesting one, even tho (they say) the later interviews are "dissapointingly incoherent"

Subject: RE: Billie Holiday on BBC2
From: Leadfingers
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 02:40 PM

Thanks for that Micca. Its almost worth going out and buying a television just to watch that one programme.Robb Johnson wrote a superb song about Billie Holliday -'Where theBlues are Found'- Great
Stuff

Subject: RE: Billie Holiday on BBC2
From: Mr Red
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 03:13 PM

Thanks

Subject: RE: Billie Holiday on BBC2
From: Rustic Rebel
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 05:10 PM

I think I saw that film. If it was the film with Louie Armstrong, based on a rag-time band in Chicago. It was an early film like 30s or 40s? If it's not the same film, the one I saw was very interesting. Billie and Satchmo(sp?)hung out in a small juke-joint and played and sang quite a bit of music together.
Oh I just re-read your post Micca, it's not the same as what you are talking about, this wasn't a documentary. I will have to look for that program, thanks.
Peace. Rustic

Subject: RE: Billie Holiday on BBC2
From: GUEST,Bystander
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 06:08 AM

The film with Billie and Louis Armstrong was 'New Orleans' which premiered in 1947. The usual Holywood crap story line, but some great music even if it is mostly fragments.

Subject: RE: Billie Holiday on BBC2
From: Rustic Rebel
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 05:21 PM

Well thanks bystander! Now I remember more of it when you said New Orleans (Not Chicago!) A film about how they tried to stop the music down in the French Quarters it seems to me, that was what it was about.

Subject: RE: Billie Holiday on BBC2
From: GUEST,Bystander
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 09:32 PM

The film was supposed to portray the closing down of the Storyville red light district in N.O. by the U.S. Navy in 1919 and the exodus of the black musicians it employed to Chicago. Somehow the story line got hijacked by white opera singers, symphonic orchestras and Woody Herman's First Herd! I have a great CD issued 20 years ago (have they really been around that long?) of recordings made for the soundtrack, most of which never got onto it in the finish, 'Giants of Jazz' GOJCD 1025, probably long out of print.

Subject: RE: Billie Holiday on BBC2
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 28 Mar 03 - 07:28 AM

Yeah, but she sings jazz... If I remember right, Symphony In Black is a short with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. I'am looking forward to to watching it.

Subject: RE: Billie Holiday on BBC2
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 28 Mar 03 - 08:58 AM

This programme isn't listed on the BBC website schedule BBC schedule Monday 31st March 2003, has it been cancelled or postponed?

Subject: RE: Billie Holiday on BBC2
From: Micca
Date: 28 Mar 03 - 09:16 AM

It was listed in the current ( thats is commencing Sat 29 March)edition of the "Radio Times" as their Choice for the day !!

Subject: RE: Billie Holiday on BBC2
From: belfast
Date: 29 Mar 03 - 08:18 AM

I've just checked on the link given by Brian Hoskin and it's listed there now. "Billie on Billie" BBC2. Thank you for drawing this to our attention.

Subject: RE: Billie Holiday on BBC2
From: Micca
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 03:52 AM

Well, It was a strange sort of Docu, The interviews with Billie towards the end of her life were almost(but not Quite) incoherent, possibly due to the "high dependence" factor, and the recordings were not as clean as some of the released discography, but a Fascinating insight anyway. Morty, I have taped it for you!!

Subject: RE: Billie Holiday on BBC2
From: BanjoRay
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 04:39 AM

Blast - I missed it! Anyone know if it's being repeated on BBC 4?
Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: Billie Holiday on BBC2
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 09:09 AM

Missed the thread, and nearly missed the show. Tuned in just as she was introducing Strange Fruit to what I took to be a mostly white audience. I was curious about how they would react, as I think she was as she sang it. (They applauded.) Nowadays they use gurneys and Old Sparky in place of trees, so there's been some progress.

Thanks for mentioning the programme Micca. I'll have to hope it's repeated somewhere.

Subject: RE: Billie Holiday on BBC2
From: Mr Red
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 05:42 PM

One thing about "Strange Fruit" I noticred was that she stated it was, as she said, "Specially written for me". Which would clear-up the contoversy about whether she did or didn't write the song but maybe just singing it was risky enough so maybe it will never be resolved. Unless any 'Catters have better evidence. Well?

Subject: RE: Billie Holiday on BBC2
From: Rustic Rebel
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 05:57 PM

The song was written by Abel Meeropol, a school teacher from the bronx-NY. It was Billie's signature song after she sang it at the Cafe Society Nightclub in 1939.