Broadcast: April 27, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
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Episode 12 - Billie's Final Years
In this episode we listen to her last recordings, learn about an abandoned European tour, her ill-fated last hospital stay, and her passing in 1959 at the age of 44.
This program features archival interviews with Annie Ross, Vernon Alley, Fred Plotkin, Leonard Feather, Ray Ellis, Memry Midgett, Billie herself, and others.
Hear songs including "The End of a Love Affair," "Violets for Your Furs", "Don't Worry 'bout Me", "I Cried for You", and other compositions.
We also hear a touching story from Dan Morgenstern about the time he went to hear Billie at a small club in Boston, his two conversations with Billie between sets, and his fear that he stayed too long and wouldn't be able to pay the bill.
And we conclude this episode with a definition of Jazz from Billie herself.