The History Buff, Inc. - Phone: (952) 937-0325
17509 Bearpath Trail, Eden Prairie, MN 55347 or Palm Beach, FL, 33480
Billie Holiday
Rare Document Signed The Contract
for Her Last Performance
The Most Legendary Jazz & Blues
Singer of All-Time
Rare Document Signed The Contract for Her Last Performance
The Most Legendary Jazz & Blues Singer of All-Time
SUMMARY:
Rare Document Signed, the Contract for Billie Holiday's Last Performance,
one page, quarto, dated May 20, 1959, New York City, being an American
Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA) Standard Form of Artists Engagement
contract, for a one day concert at the Phoenix Theatre on May 25,
her last performance, for which Holiday will be paid $350. A typed
notation adds that "Billie Holiday to Supply Pianist." Signed
with a large ink signature :"Billie Holiday" and countersigned
by the operator of the Phoenix Theatre.
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Billie
Holiday (1915-1959). Legendary Blues and Jazz Singer, Member
of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2000). The most influential singer
in the genre of all-time. Born in Baltimore as Eleanor Fagen Gough,
early in her career she chose to adopt the name of her idol, Billie
Dove. In 1931 she started working as a dancer in Harlem, at which
she was asked to sing. Her first recording was with Benny Goodman
in 1933. By 1935 she appeared in a short film and then made her stage
debut at the Apollo Theater in New York. Several of her songs, including
her signature song "God Bless the Child," Gershwin's "I
Love You Porgy," and the rueful blues "Fine and Mellow,"
are jazz classics. Her performance of Abel Meeropol's anti-lynching
song on Commodore, "Strange Fruit", with the lyric "Southern
trees bear strange fruit" gave her a place, not just in musical
history, but in American history.
Rare Document
Signed, the Contract for Billie Holiday's Last Performance,
one page, quarto, dated May 20, 1959, New York City, being an American
Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA) Standard Form of Artists Engagement
contract, for a one day concert at the Phoenix Theatre on May 25,
her last performance, for which Holiday will be paid $350. A typed
notation adds that "Billie Holiday to Supply Pianist." Signed
with a large ink signature :"Billie Holiday" and countersigned
by the operator of the Phoenix Theatre.
Billie Holiday's last performance was at the Phoenix Theatre in New York City on May 25, 1959. That concert was fifty-three days before she tragically succumbed to a drug and alcohol addiction on July 17. Holiday was argueably the most influential singer in the genre of all-time. Her success was marred by a growing dependence on drugs, alcohol, and abusive relationships late in her career. This affected her voice as well, and in her later recordings youthful spirit is replaced by overtones of regret, but her impact on other artists and the genre was undeniable. This dependency also prevented her from acquiring a cabaret card. Holiday could not work in New York City clubs for the last 12 years of her life. Essentially broke and drug dependent, her performances were limited to theaters only. She was arrested on her deathbed for narcotics. She had been swindled out of her earnings and died with only $0.70 in the bank and $750 dollars on her person.
Document shows normal aging and handling, folds, overall very good. Accompanied with an 8 in. by 10 in. black and white bust photograph of Holiday. Very unique and undoubtedly one of the rarest pieces of Holiday memorablilia to ever appear on the market.
LOWER DETAIL OF CONTRACT
This photo will come with a letter of provenance as to their origin, history and authenticity.
Price: $9500.00
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