Music

I've always loved Billie Holiday  (1915-1959), even before David Sedaris wrote about singing like her. Before reading about how the FBI sent someone to get her, and he fell in love with her, chained to a hospital bed. Before learned Billie Eilish was named after her. Before I knew she was named after Billie Dove. Before I heard Strange Fruit , her greatest song, lyrics by  Abel Meeropol . Early life bio: She was born in Philadelphia, grew up in Baltimore. "Eleanora Fagan [4] [5] was born on April 7, 1915, [6] in Philadelphia to African American unwed teenage couple Clarence Halliday and Sarah Julia "Sadie" Fagan (née Harris). Her mother moved to Philadelphia at age 19, [7] after being evicted from her parents' home in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland, for becoming pregnant. With no support from her parents, Sarah made arrangements with her older, married half-sister, Eva Miller, for Holiday to stay with her in Baltimore." (Wiki...

My friend asked for more women vocalists. I sent him Right Back To It by Waxahatchee, which is my current favorite. Kathryn Crutchfield is the singer. Unfortunately when I’m meditating, these kinds of questions obsess me as a kind of distraction.  My first thought was Joni Mitchell , and Brandi Carlile . Those two are giants. There’s nobody like Ella Fitzgerald , I think she’s the top. I like her work with Duke Ellington best. Billie Holiday is a favorite. I love it that J. Edgar Hoover sent an agent to get the dirt on her, and he fell in love with her. I love her albums with Lester Young .  Alison Krauss has such a sweet voice, from bluegrass to pop. Her latest albums have been with the guy who sang for Led Zeppelin.  Linda Ronstadt constantly amazed me. Blue Bayou is amazing. Lately I've been listening to Sophie Milman . Indigo Girls have some solid hits. Galileo , Closer To Fine , Tiny Desk Concert . Tiny Desk Concerts are amazing. Power of Two on Spotify . ...