Contact

I’m Brazilian, living in Rio de Janeiro. An old jazz and Billie Holiday fan, I decided to bring my small contribution to those who share the same passion.

Hope you contribute by sending ideas and comments to improve the content quality.

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NOTE: I am not a musician, nor do I have any musical training, so my comments do not have any technical pretension. They are just an expression of my personal feelings. This site is the result of years of research and has absolutely no commercial purpose. I appreciate any corrections and your comments are always welcome. And, as you will surely notice, English is not my native language. Hope you enjoy

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Acknowledgements

This work was inspired, or supported, by some special colleagues:

Ernesto Varela from Buenos Aires
Jim Prochilo from New York City
Diarmuid O’Hanlon from Dublin
Taro Cross from Tokyo
Jerry Meyer from New Haven
Joe Styles from Los Angeles

 

Publisher: Paulo Roberto Novaes de Oliveira
prnovaes@gmail.com

 

© 2005-2023 www.billieholidaysongs.com ® (rev. Aug 2023)

42 thoughts on “Contact”

  2. Wonderful to see this back… would be wonderful if you had the lyrics as a downloadable PDF… id love it on my devices 🙂

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  3. If you use a photograph of Milt Hinton (we own copyright), why don’t you AT LEAST give him credit? It’s the last photo on you website. You could also provide the link to MiltHinton.com

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    • Dear Mr. Berger

      First of all, let me tell you that Billieholidaysongs is a non-profit tribute site to Lady Day that is running for almost 10 years. It is the result of my personal efforts.

      I didn´t know that particular image was Milt Hilton’s copyright. Sorry for that. I have just deleted the image from my website.

      All the best,
      Paulo

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  4. What an amazing site. Ive been a BH fan for many years and this is the icing on the cake. Brilliant.

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  5. What happened to Billie Holiday’s Christmas tunes?! You used to hear in the stores. She had some dynamite numbers with tight backup jazz bands.

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    • Dear Patrick,
      actually Billie Holiday never recorded Xmas tunes. You probably have heard tunes with Ella Fitzgerald, who recorded two LP albums.
      Regards,
      Paulo

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  6. Paulo, congratulations on a fabulous site, your knowledge and dedication are astounding and greatly appreciated – a huge THANK YOU for sharing this wonderful resource with a world of Lady Day fans. Best wishes from Australia!!

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  9. I believe that I have loved her most of my life Her songs her beauty and her phrasing no body did it better . I sing most of her songs and could not really choose one although Ill Wind is very emotional Thank you I am new to this site

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  10. Dear Paulo. Thank you so much for creating this Amazing site in honor of the renowned, Lady Day (Billie Holiday).. What a contribution. I visit often, however it’s never long enough for me. You are a very giving Man. Thank you again, I’ll be in touch soon.
    -Treva Olivia Wilson
    trevao14@gmail.com

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    • Dear Treva
      words to honor Lady day are never too long. Thanks for the compliments. Feel free to share your thoughts. Paulo

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  12. Pozdrawiam z Polski i bardzo dziękuję za całość co obejmuję życie BILLIE HOLIDAY naprawdę doceniam ogrom pracy jaką Pan włożył w ten portal ku uciesze wszystkich fanów LADY DAY. Życze zdrowia i tak jak każdemu fanowi jej śpiewu życzę wszystkim wzruszeń przy kolejnym odsłuchiwaniu jej utworów. Na bazie Pana chronologii proponuję się określić co mam a co mi jeszcze brakuję by uzupełnić Pozdrawiam Leszek Garstka z Warszawy.

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      • Skopiowałem i wydrukowałem sobie cały ten ogrom co włożył Pan dla fanów Billie Holiday i zaglądam do segregatora i uzupełniam jej nagrania . Wielkie dzięki i pozdrawiam wszystkich fanów Lady Day. Powodzenia życzę Leszek Garstka z Warszawy. P.s Mniej zaglądam ale wpadam by zobaczyć co tam nowego jest.

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  15. Thanks for the feedback. I am in Denmark so it makes sense 😉
    I am sending the pictures to your via email.
    Many thanks
    David

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  16. I have an album called “Lady Days Swings (not Sings) the Blues) from La Brea Records. I can’t find it listed anywhere. It also has a couple songs on it I don’t find listed anywhere including
    Nobody’s Business (GREAT song!)
    Everything a Good Man Needs
    No Detour Ahead (Maybe same as “Detour Ahead”?)
    She’s Funny That Way (a version of “He’s Funny that Way”?)

    Let me know if this is rare material or you want more info.

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    • Hi, Mike
      As far as I know, La Brea was a small label from California (probably Los Angeles) in the 1950s or 60s. I have never heard about this particular LP, probably a scarce one, specially if in good conditions. But the selection is quite usual. However, I noticed that there are many errors in the way they wrote the titles in the album, which makes me think that it was a very poor amateurish work. For instance:
      Nobody’s Business is short of “Ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do” (1922) a famous jazz standard by Porter Grainger & Everett Robbins. Billie recorded it 7 times (you can see them in Songs A menu). No Detour Ahead is actually Detour Ahead as you pointed out. And She’s Funny… is definitely He’s. But the worst case is Everything a Good Man Needs!! This is only a verse of the lyrics (listen to it) and the correct title is “Billie’s Blues” aka “I Love My Man” a song written by Lady Day herself! What a shame they didn’t know that. Well, hope I have helped. Enjoy Billie.
      Paulo.

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  17. Skopiowałem i wydrukowałem sobie cały ten ogrom co włożył Pan dla fanów Billie Holiday i zaglądam do segregatora i uzupełniam jej nagrania . Wielkie dzięki i pozdrawiam wszystkich fanów Lady Day. Powodzenia życzę Leszek Garstka z Warszawy. P.s Mniej zaglądam ale wpadam by zobaczyć co tam nowego jest.

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  19. Paulo tak dziś pomyślałem że skoro skupiasz tu grono fanów Billie Holiday dobrze by było poznać sondaż wśród fanów Lady Day który utwór w jej wykonaniu spowodował że zainteresowanie jej śpiewem przerosło w hołubienie ,jestem ciekawy może niektórzy się odezwą i powiedzą co ich zainspirowało.To może skoro wywołałem temat ja pierwszy zgłoszę że u mnie to był utwór Yestardays który uslyszałem w jej wykonaniu on spowodował te zauroczenie Billie czekam na echo fanów i pozdrawiam Ciebie oraz wszystkich co szukają inspiracji buszując po tym portalu Leszek.

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  21. Dear Paulo,

    Many thanks for this incredible resource.

    I’ve loved Billie Holiday’s music for a very long time. I’ll be sure to visit this site often.

    Warm regards from Long Island, NY.

    Thomas

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  22. Hi! Thanks so much for all the great information! I’m preparing a Billie Holiday comp and was wondering if there’s a complete list of all of her singles, 78s and 45s, released in her lifetime. If anyone can help me find this I’d be very grateful. Thanks again and best to all.

    Jay

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  23. Just found you . Been singing her songs since 1986. Performed on films, stage and radio and live concerts over the years. I used to type out her list and type up all the lyrics while I was at work in the 80’s when no one was looking. This is extra special . Thank you very much

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  24. Yikes! Was a bit surprised when you claimed Louis Armstrong cussed on “Sweet Hunk of Trash,” until I realized the mistake. He’s saying, “How come, baby?” Would be so out of character for him to swear.

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  25. The only instruments on “Don’t Explain” from Art Ford’s Jazz Party (1958) are guitar, piano, vibes, bass and drums. There are no horns or woodwinds.

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