“Lady Sings the Blues” — An Interesting Biography of Billie Holiday
This book, published in 1956, is a must for any jazz music lover. Written by Billie Holiday herself and William Dufty, it covers the struggling life of Lady Day in the first person from her birth to the fifties, immersing yourself in the musical ambiance and lifestyle of jazz musicians of three decades.
This hard story teaches us about coping, perseverance, and resilience. Since her childhood, Holiday faced discrimination, fear, poverty, substance abuse, and all kinds of difficulties that didn't prevent her from becoming the most creative and emotional jazz singer of all time. “Lady Sings the Blues” not only teaches us about jazz history, but also entertains us with a bitter sense of humor and a writing style that makes its reading pleasant.
Since this book is autobiographical and published during Billie’s lifetime, some facts may have been altered or embellished. Some of them are different from the ones I've studied in other sources, but I don’t know which ones to believe. You can't expect the rawness of Sylvia Plath Diaries, to whom death came so soon so she couldn’t change anything, or the accuracy of an historian writer. However, the relevant storyline sustains.
In conclusion, this biography is an interesting approach to Billie Holiday life that for sure will let you understand her songs and interpretation style way more better. I personally enjoy it so much and I strongly believe that it is worth a read if you like jazz as much as I do.