Broadcast: February 23, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
Listen to this episode: Click here
Episode 3 - Strange Fruit
In this episode, we hear the history of the controversial song Billie chose to sing early in her career and kept in her repertoire until the end of her life.
Although short in length, "Strange Fruit" is a powerful allegory about lynching and it took great courage for Billie to present it, which she first did at a small, new club in Greenwich Village called Cafe Society. She continued to sing at small clubs and large venues such as Carnegie Hall.
We hear two interpretations of the song by Billie as well as an arrangement by pianist Lara Downes. We also hear comments by Phil Schaap, Cassandra Wilson, Angela Davis, Lara Downes, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Rene Marie.
Episode 3 also has archival interviews featuring comments by John Hammond, Teddy Wilson, and Cozy Cole.