Lady Day: The Many Faces Of Billie Holiday [Paperback]

Robert O'Meally (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 21, 2000

"Billie Holiday deserves a biography in which her musicianship isn't overshadowed by the tragic events of her life. O'Meally has written that book," says Entertainment Weekly about this absorbing and authoritative account of the greatest jazz singer in history. O'Meally emphasizes Holiday's artistry and training rather than her personal miseries, and he uses voluminous archival material to correct common myths about Holiday. Chronicling her rigorous musical apprenticeship in Baltimore, her reception in New York by Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington, and her work with various musicians, particularly Lester Young, Lady Day is an impassioned testament to Holiday's genius that confirms her place in American jazz.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

O'Meally concentrates on Holiday the musician in this profusely illustrated biographical study.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Narcotics, jail, sexual abuse, and prejudice are often our first associations concerning the life of the great jazz singer, but this biography recalls only Holiday as artist. O'Meally (English, Barnard Coll.) puts her tragedy and talent into perspective, and what emerges is a critique of a singer. The book's first section is outstanding in this regard, employing stories, quotes, and interviews in describing Holiday's technique. Holiday and William Dufty's Lady Sings the Blues ( LJ 8/56) is a serious and inspirational account; O'Meally's treatment is also serious, but he offers psychological analysis as well. Referring to the subtitle, O'Meally writes, "Through her music . . . she faced down a world full of trouble . . . her songs were confrontations." No index or footnotes are provided, but there is a large selected bibliography. For large public libraries and academic music collections. (Photos not seen).
- Ina M. Wise, Chicago
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (August 21, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306809591
• ISBN-13: 978-0306809590
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #352,320 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's her music that made her special. . ., November 28, 2001

By 

Nicholas Antonucci "Nic" (Southold, New York United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lady Day: The Many Faces Of Billie Holiday (Paperback)

Tired of all the treatments of Holiday's life in film and print that forget it was her music that made her special, I was delighted to find Professor O'Meally's book. Fascinated with Holiday's life as musician, I had been routinely disappointed whenever I picked up a book or movie in hope of discovering more about her musicianship and less about the tragedies in her life. The book never loses its focus in this respect, making it quite unique.

What made this book even more enjoyable for me to read is that almost ten years ago I was fortunate enough to have taken a class taught by Professor O'Meally. His book conveys the same enthusiasm and passion he had for the subject matter and classes he taught and, no doubt, passed on to his students.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Genius, April 20, 2003

By 

anonymous (Hyattsville, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lady Day: The Many Faces Of Billie Holiday (Paperback)

The reason this book is so powerful is the perfect
melding of photographs and text.

The author's rich, empathetic text makes plain Billie
Holiday's genius as an artist and, unlike some of the
so-called biographies of her life, don't simplify her to
the point of caricature.

Mr. O'Meally focuses on what makes Billie Holiday special:
her total mastery of her craft and her ability to share
her vision of the world through song.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well researched, with attention to her music, August 24, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Lady Day: The Many Faces of Billie Holiday (Paperback)

Probably one of the best all-round bios of Lady Day, covering the personal and professional. Pays attention to her musical preferences and reasoning behind her unique recording style