Billie Holiday on Stars of Jazz (1956)

Billie Holiday featured on Stars of Jazz on August 13, 1956, a TV program hosted by Bobby Troup. Here, she sings in order "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone", "Billie's Blues", and "My Man".
Louis McKay, Lady's husband, also makes his TV debut.
Original air date:
August 13, 1956 on K-ABC TV, Hollywood, Los Angeles
I do not own the rights to this video.

[@susanrobinson-browning4687]

My father Pete Robinson 1927-1973 was the Producer of Stars of Jazz when he was Program Manager at KABC. So glad that someone uploaded these great transfers. The of the original kinoscopes did not survive or are almost too distorted to view. Thank you to those who shared these. My father, along with all else involved, would truly love this.

[@NYCBG]

RESPECT, Susan! And light a candle for your dad, when you can.

[@annerybradley8677]

Ms.Billie Holiday. Her music will live for ever. The one and only!!!

[@carmenlidia13]

💯 Truth 🕊🌺🕊RIPOWER 🌺🕊 Billie Holiday aka Elenore Fagan - Our Lady Day 🕊🤍🕊🌺🙏🏽♾🙏🌺🕊🤍🕊

[@wildsmiley]

Even here, three years before her death, Lady Day can still enchant a listener like nobody’s business.

[@63LAURIE]

She was superb.

[@xanlysphynx8839]

Simply

[@doxcb4717]

What a voice ...this kind of music is so much and more

[@michellejones2416]

I agree wholeheartedly!!!!!❤️♾

[@mjc5509]

Lady Day .the greatest voice in the history of JAZZ. Her VERVE/CLEF recordings are masterpieces..

[@robertokeefe5944]

"MY

[@opaqueluna5851]

Love me some billie holiday!! TRUE LEGEND!!

[@drollopes6412]

😌

[@MikhnevichNatalya]

Какая женщина!!!!!!Билли Холидей!!!!!❤️💎🌹жемчужина джаза!я бы все отдала,чтоб увидеть это в живую!🌟

[@joynewsome6221]

What a woman!. What a talent! It's incredible that her amazing artistry and gifts hold up so magnifcently after 50 years and no doubt will hold up forever!

[@AlejandroHernandez-eb9xh]

Your the true feeling of the Blue's. Feeling first that feeds the soul. No bigotry can crouch your soul. Lady sings the Blues.

[@shavedputtytat2392]

Love her.

[@RoryVanucchi]

Wonderful.. So lucky we have these clips

[@mariarinalda7941]

Billie Holiday, minha eterna Diva. Incomparável! Inimitável!

[@carmenlidia13]

L❤️VE Our Lady Day aka 🌺🕊Billie Holiday🌺🕊 So Sorry she & many went through such Bad Times

[@lelecerri7912]

Here Holiday is more singing than the night at Wein’s Storyville in Boston 1953 although in this concert she’s three years older. Even her voice is in better shape and sounds younger and good emission in better health. And more… there were tv camera and she knew they were recording her. And here she is backed vigorously and properly. They all are in good mood and shape. They all work. And they work so good. ❤

[@PlayNiceFolks]

❤️

[@robertmacy]

Awesome vintage footage.

[@janetownley]

She kind of hypnotizes me..

[@bigeman25]

I sure would have loved to see Billie live on stage or anywhere singing like she does on this clip. Beautiful job Lady.

[@shavedputtytat2392]

I saw her back in 1939 at the garden. Was an amazing show.

[@user-ul7og5up4v]

My mother and really enjoy listening to Billie Holiday❤❤

[@angelar.2088]

My favorite artist , I love Billie Holiday !! 🌹🙏

[@bigeman25]

Me again, every time I see this all I can think is this Lady was superb!

[@coldman340]

I love her so much,,

[@coldman340]

Same here

[@kexchoklad4konsum]

Same here too

[@michaelreidperry3256]

Are we even worthy to enjoy such divinity after all that went into being Lady Day, and the depths her music dared to go, know and exist?

[@susanrobinson-browning4687]

My dad Pete Robinson was standing somewhere off stage that day as he was Executive Producer of Stars of Jazz and Program Director of KABC. He knew I loved Billie Holiday when at 12yo I got hooked on Lady Sings The Blues. Never once mentioned this day, before his death in '73. He was more humble than I!

[@Airsign83]

Awesome🙂

[@JassminaVellucci]

Lady Day was Raw and real. She didn’t try being anyone but herself. Her voice was fragile with some notes, not trained. but still had the power to bring you tears. There was so much pain and sadness in her voice. When she lost a lot of her voice towards the end. She till gave you her best. Her second to last album before she died. I always go to first ( Lady in Satin). You can hear her voice was going. Her last album ( last recording) her voice gone. Due to years of drugs and alcohol. She was sick while recording. But I still like that album. Billie Holiday will always be the best to me. She was one of the greats.

[@hirarintsana6837]

That s true , she said if she should sing like anybody else, she should not sing at all. She s so true to herself, she sings like no other singer and her voice is one in a million

[@nysaxman]

I've never seen this before. The host was Bobby Troup. He wrote Nat King Cole's hit "Route 66". I'm not familiar with the west coast sidemen, but they were superb. There's a lot of good stuff on you tube that can be discovered. Ignore the bad stuff.

[@beasaroze5596]

🌺💗🌺 Billie Holiday 🌺💗🌺

[@mameyjay1]

I really love and respect Miss Holiday! RIP your music is timeless! 😍❤

[@joseclaudiopacci6128]

Assistindo e amando Billie em 2024.

[@veegreene941]

She was gorgeous....

[@alexandrawineland1178]

Love this. Love Billie!

[@livvynut]

I don't think there will ever again be a more important and influential vocalist as Lady. The mould has been broken.

[@cynthiaddent]

Priceless

[@darm.8172]

Funny, I Was Born 18 Days -After This Recording. Love You Ms.Lady Day...Rest Peacefully, We Have Your Back -To Eternity.

[@freddiebrooks6898]

A good singer 😍

[@donnaanderson5789]

Thank sincerely for finding and posting this rare gem.

[@jonldn]

Like many I have been listening to Lady Day for so many years - Now with You Tube we get the chance to see her artistry - Billie Blues especially Thank you and to all who post this wonderful music

[@thereisnoproblem]

Oh! This is more than wonderful! Thank you so! ♥

[@aminahshabazz8689]

Fabulous look at her life! Surprising the publicity she garnered on 1950's racist television! Tragic Billie was huge!!! 😘

[@pghlady65]

“He beats me too.”.Wow. 🥲

[@bigeman25]

Thank you!

[@ronp3000]

Classic! Thx for the post. Such passion and feeling in her voice.. :)

[@adrianjohnson2874]

Legend!!!!!

[@hirarintsana6837]

I like her voice, it s sharp ,raspy and there is something i can t describe her voice its legendary

[@lilb257]

At my young age I still listen to her

[@mzseeking]

I tell you, youtube is a wonderful thing!!! Billie Holiday is my favorite from that era!! #TorturedSoul

[@cherryboo65b56]

My grandmothers cousin. She took my dad to the Apollo for a personal tour. A great performer. 😊

[@joeanthony1456]

Love you Billie.

[@wiggluededgessnatched]

we can't stop talking about you even if you're gone Billie... rest assured about that... even though you are not a feminist for not fighting the men that hurt you in the past, instead coming back to it from time to time.... your talent is first class... 🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎

[@AndreaCeleste]

Thank you for sharing this wonderful video!

[@belldust]

You do a wonderful Job Nigel!!! I love it thank you

[@TheSpikehere]

I first heard these tracks on vinyl 30 odd years ago. But, I've not seen ths footage before. Thanks for posting this!

[@natalee217]

Nothing like the sound of vinyl

[@juanfranco-amigo412]

We love you...Billie Holiday!

[@SimonSozzi7258]

I still clearly remember when I first saw this at Movies in the Park in NYC Bryan Park. They were showing "Jazz on a Summers Day". This was back in 2005 or earlier. What a discovery to find Anita O'Day! I was already a huge fan of Holliday, Fitzgerald, Vaughan and the rest, but I had never heard of O'Day yet. Mind blown!

[@williambautista2624]

ASI SIEMPRE CANTA CON ESAVOZ INCONFUNDIBLE ESA ES BILLIE JOLIDAY POR SIENPRE GRACIAS

[@user-yt1qm9nq4c]

She sang here my man i had chills wowwww

[@curlylassie8036]

Legend

[@fireupyourheartfortruth]

love u❤️💔❤️❤️🔥❤️

[@alexoliver4222]

Hello 👋 How are you doing today?

[@keykiyox]

How much she was influenced by Satchmo....I sense that. But no one else sang like that, Satch himself included. My man is such a bitter song. They know how to write everlasting songs those days.

[@zaettav]

Marvelous

[@laurentchabas8076]

the best of the best jazz singer ever !!! 💘😍

[@brucescott4261]

Laurent Chabas ...One of the best.

[@netopepeto1]

I don' know how you do it but you do a great job. Keep it up and Thank you!

[@RebecaC12]

Thank you sooooooo very much!! :D

[@carolhightower5282]

Rebeca

[@pandoraroy117]

Thank you

[@andreagaggero4417]

The Pete Jolly Trio: Pete Jolly, piano; Jules Bertaux, acoustic double bass; Robert Neel, drums. + Billie Holiday, vocal,

[@GreggJohns]

Thanks for posting that.

[@douglasdennett4583]

Kindness is Grace and Grace is Elegance.!!!" - Author [ Ms. Billy Holiday & Ms. Angelina Jordan ] Unknown "Thank U - The Billy Holiday Experience"

[@adilsonoliveira6234]

Billie Holiday é a maior cantora de todos os tempos. Muitas musicas por ela interpretada, tornaram-se sucesso, mais pela sua capacidade de sentir a música, o que o torna única nos seus recursos vocal.

[@EasyPersuasionTPS]

You are such a lady 💚 Lady Day

[@jsmith3980]

Brilliant programme...thanks for posting.

[@shaunlewis8484]

What a beautiful gift from a tragic life...

[@lisajackson1476]

What a beutiful experience....

[@dept2]

I'm 99% sure the pianist is Paul Smith, the bass player is Bob Bertaux and the drummer is Bob Neal - all from the Hollywood recording studios. Both BOB'S played on Steve Allen's 5 night a week show in 1962-63-64 and they both played for a time with Les Brown & his band. In the Steve Allen band that was on for 3 years - 5 nights a week - other band members were Herb Ellis-guitar, Don Trenner - piano, Frank Rosolino - trombone, Conte Candoli - trumpet (preceded by Jimmy Zito) and a few others.

[@kingcat61]

wonderful

[@brunocasares3881]

Love you Billie wonderful

[@dutchhenkie2]

This rendition of My Man must be one of the most poignant jazz interpretations ever. You cringe with her when she sings: he beats me too. What a genius she was...

[@AAwildeone]

+Henk Timmerman and after the host had just sang praises (maybe ironically?) about "the man"...all I can say is there are tremendous vocalists these days that can at times take me to tears, but NONE make me cry AND SHIVER like the Lady herself

[@griernewyork3021]

Oh, yes. Billie brought everything she knew and experienced into her music. And decades later we still appreciate her artistry. Her gift. Her magic.

[@RoryVanucchi]

Not at her peak but be grateful.. Not much video of her exists.. Especially before television

[@susanrobinson-browning4687]

"...forever more!"

[@grlevert]

She sang her truth

[@williambautista2624]

ASI ES COMO CANTA CON ESE ESTILO SOLO DE BILLIE JOLIIEY NADA COMO ESA GRAN VOZ POR ESO SERA LA MEJOR SOLISTA DEL JAZZ GRACIAS

[@morenalorenaambrosi1597]

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@albertolauro2433]

Maravillosa

[@waynebrasler]

She of course did not write the book; she was extensively interviewed for it. She intentionally gave it a hip-kitty tone. But don't be fooled. On the road and in the recording studio she was a very in command and wise artist. She was always the unbilled co-producer of any record she made. She knew what she wanted to achieve and made sure she achieved, even if it meant doing the producer's way first and then her way. Even her outtakes on Columbia, Commodore Decca and Verve are a revelation and often surprisingly different from the released versions.

[@vaxjalus5647]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5zWqHWmqdCjgZI

[@WoodeyTimothy]

@Tom Lowery I think we know the reason why she lost her career, and it had nothing to do with her “unprofessionalism”. It had everything to do with the agenda of Harry Anslinger, thank you very much.

[@WoodeyTimothy]

@Tom Lowery I'll say it again, darling; Two words: Harry Anslinger. Take care

[@WoodeyTimothy]

She was in very good voice here; she was truly a beautiful woman.

[@erlingbrunpedersen6396]

❤❤❤

[@willemvanasveldt7131]

What a great voice. In my opinion the greatest jazz singer ever.

[@mahailonknight8361]

Her voice kinda remind me of Florence Ballard of the supremes beautiful and unique

[@auroradarienzo]

[@hellenandrewsmatriarcablue9877]

Helle andrews good sing

[@hellenandrewsmatriarcablue9877]

Vera good

[@rogerwilco4397]

That's Bobby Troupe. Remember him and his wife, Julie London from "Emergency"? Talk about bizarre casting that worked.

[@levetteford4919]

What was Louis McCay's line of work?

[@lisahassell-gates5741]

Levette Ford He was in the numbers racket

[@williegilson4340]

Gangster and pimp. He beat Billie bad very often.

[@nadyarossi5102]

Pimp, bookie, drug dealer, gigalo, no-goodnik!

[@richardthornton9280]

Pimp and drug pusher

[@grlevert]

Gangster

[@dirkvandehengst6085]

Jf.youll.put.all.this.together.thates.what.one.man.needes.beautifull.GADBLESDYOUWhen..you.gat.tto.belive.in.samone.lucky.you

[@MasonThomas_yt]

"all girl hotel" you've got to be fucking Kidding me

[@VI5H]

The presenter had a slightly palatable way of stating that Billies mum was 13 when she gave birth to her . People had to grow up very quickly back in those days.

[@richardhughes7044]

That was a line out of Billie's book...

[@grlevert]

That was not true. Mom was19 and father 17.

[@VI5H]

@@grlevertIt doesn't really matter , everyone knows how it was back in those days, getting married off very young and having kids was "normal". But I'm just going by what the guy in the video said. Billies mum was 16 when she got married and Billie was 3 ....16-3=13. If he lied or Billies book lied then its not my fault.... 2:30

[@grlevert]

@@VI5H He’s wrong, and the book that was ghost written for her is wrong. Researchers have agreed that she was born in Philadelphia to her mother Sadie/Harris/Fagan, mother age 19, and father Clarence Holiday was 17. Eleanora Harris/Fagan. They moved to Baltimore When she was an infant, and her parents NEVER married. Do your research-it adds to understanding her broken beginnings.

[@VI5H]

@@grlevert Fair enough. In that case I'll still leave this here instead of deleting my comment so people can read your correction.

[@mario7frankielee]

turn her up mr.engineer

[@brutusalwaysminded]

Wow. The tacky jailbird production is stupid. Too bad Lady had to resort to this to sell her book. Still good to see her recorded live. Thanks.

[@mario7frankielee]

when narrators smoked while narrating how i miss that

[@hechrhymes4018]

"an all girl hotel". haaaa

[@shaunlewis8484]

So accustomed to being used and abused by men; she sings about it as if it’s normal... he stole her entire fortune

[@geraldinetalley3664]

I'm not sure that Lady Day had a "fortunate" for McKay to take. People have to remember that by the time they meet, Lady Day had been a drug user for years. A lot of her money was paid to the drug dealer.

[@donalddavis6689]

@@geraldinetalley3664 Louis McKay, Took Her Fortune And Gave His Wife 20% And Their Son Half, Besides His Second Son From Another Marriage.. That's Sad Before God!! I Pray 🙏 🙏.. And Hope That Mrs. Billie Holiday Have A Blood Relative!! Or Relative's - That Can Come Fourth And Get... Mrs. Billie Holiday 🌼 🌼.. Fortune Back.

[@vova47]

Lady Day is great but the piano player, whoever he is, is not the most sensitive accompanist. She deserved better.

[@alternit]

pianist is overplaying on the first song

[@wiggluededgessnatched]

The difference when I'm listening to black female Jazz & Blues singers: Pearl Bailey - 🥰 Billie Holiday: 😢 Nancy Wilson: 😘 Sarah Vaughan: 😌 Ella Fitzgerald: 😃 Nina Simone: 🤤 Lena Horne: 😏 Bessie Smith: ☺️ Ma Rainey: 🤠 Lucille Bogan: 😱 Eartha Kitt: 😚 Dinah Washington: 😯 Koko Taylor: 🤯 *Gospel: Mahalia Jackson: 😇 Clara Ward: 🥺 Cissy Houston: 😳 *Rock n Roll: Big Mamma Thornton: 🤩 Sister Rosetta Tharpe: 🥳 * Rhythm and Blues: Etta James: 😎 *Classical/Ethnic/Theatrical: Josephine Baker: 😁 (*Not gonna include the " QUEEN OF SOUL " - Aretha and other 60's Soul Divas, They, Shady*)

[@watcherof47]

in this interpretation of the songs is no soli. the songs reduced to its limit

[@bobcowlesjr9920]

Why were those ignorant people clapping during that last song. That was really depressing no ma'am you should not have to deal with that

[@rationraw5017]

Lonely Billie sings Good Harry laughs Lonely Billie runs Good Harry hires black people to catch her Lonely Billie cries Good Harry says “Liar!” Lonely Billie shouts Good Harry beats her, kicks her, grabs her hairs Lonely Billie sleeps Good Harry breaks open her door Lonely Billie drugs Good Harry watches “What a trash” Lonely Billie talks Good Harry Eavesdrops Lonely Billie opens her eyes Good Harry peeps Lonely Billie murmurs “America” Good Harry stones her “Not your America” Lonely Billie trembles Good Harry and his men shake their heads Lonely Billie flinches Good Harry and his women giggles (Maybe good Harry even tries to convince/frame lonely Billie is a pedophile to make her kill herself, no one knows🤭

[@Arron413]

Billie's sodium level was high in her diet at the time of this recording.

[@nadyarossi5102]

Was she diabetic?

[@Arron413]

@@nadyarossi5102 I don't know.

[@nadyarossi5102]

@@Arron413 She suffered her whole life.