Broadcast: February 16, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
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Episode 2 - The Early Years
In this episode, we hear about Billie's early life in Baltimore and how she absorbed recordings by Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith and Ethel Waters.
We also discuss her move to Harlem where at the age of 18 she was "latched onto" by John Hammond who quickly arranged a recording session with a then unknown clarinettist named Benny Goodman. There's also dicussion of her work with Duke Ellington and her rise to stardom.
Throughout the episode, we hear comments by Robert O'Meally, Phil Schaap, Angela Davis, Dr. Farah Jasmine Griffin, Alan Harris, Rene Marie, and Dianne Reeves.
Episode 2 also includes archival interviews with Albert Murray, John Hammond, Honi Coles, Teddy Wilson Cozy Cole, and with Billie herself.