I also knew that I could listen to Billie Holiday night and day for the years I would spend writing this book, and never grow tired of her. I chose to write about Billie Holiday because her music has always haunted me, and I wanted to know how religion might have shaped her life and her sound. Question: What inspired you to write a book about Billie Holiday and religion?Īnswer: Six or seven years ago, my friend Peter Kaufman, a historian of European Christianity, invited me to write a book for a new series - “Religion Around” - which starts from the premise that we learn something valuable about an iconic figure by studying the religion around that person. The distinctive, melancholy voice the floral accented hair the lore of a life marked by lows, highs and lows again the name Billie Holiday quickly conjures the personification of a jazz singer.īut what about religion? What were the spiritual drivers behind the singer’s songs, struggles and successes? It’s not a theme readily connected to Billie Holiday, but Tracy Fessenden believes religion shaped the woman her fans and friends called “Lady Day.”įessenden, the Steve and Margaret Forster Professor in the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies at Arizona State University, explores the impactful but understated connection between religion and Holiday in her new book, "Religion Around Billie Holiday." She recently shared the discoveries of her research and writing with ASU Now - just in time for Jazz Appreciation Month. This also marks the musician's final recording: Armstrong used a reel-to-reel tape recorder in his Queens, New York, home in February 1971 – five months prior to his death – to recite the classic, which has been paired with a newly recorded background instrumental by New Orleans pianist Sullivan Fortner.ApASU professor examines spiritual impact on jazz singer’s art and life in new bookĮditor's note: You can listen to Tracy Fessenden's Billie Holiday Spotify playlist while reading this article. Nicholas” (aka, Clement Clarke Moore’s poem “The Night Before Christmas”). Along with memorable tunes “‘Zat You Santa Claus?” and “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” with Ella Fitzgerald, the standout is Armstrong's reading of “A Visit from St. The new album “Louis Wishes You a Cool Yule” collects all of Armstrong’s holiday music in one place for the first time, so even posthumously, he technically has a debut record.
Shades of The Jackson 5 and Boyz II Men color this finger-snapping slice of soul, one of four new songs on Keys’ first-ever Christmas album, “Santa Baby.” The 11-track album also includes a searing rendition of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” and a seductive piano-based reading of the title track.ĥ holiday movies that are really kind of depressing: 'Last Christmas' and more Louis Armstrong, ‘A Visit from St.
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