Blogfinger

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger

SCENE: Wegmans under 15 checkout line. An African-American woman, perhaps age 40, was at the register. She had a pink flower in her hair.

Me: So, you’ve got the Billie Holiday look today.

She: (smiles) Do you like Billie Holiday?

Me: Very much.

She: What song of hers do you like?

Me: Uh (remembering my last blogpost) “April in Paris.”

She: How about “Good Morning Heartache?”

Me: Sure–that’s beautiful.

She: Begins singing a verse of that song. She is wonderful! The lady behind me and I stand there mesmerized. Then she finishes the verse and smiles, resuming her packing.

Me: That was so good!  Thank you. (It was the first time I was ever mesmerized in a grocery store )

Billie Holiday

GOOD MORNING HEARTACHE:   Diana Ross played Billie Holiday in the movie “The Lady Sings the Blues” and she sang this song for the film, but in the version below we hear Billie Holiday herself.

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Posted in True Conversations on Blogfinger | Tagged Billie Holiday on Blogfinger, True conversation at Wegmans | 6 Comments

6 Responses

1. on September 19, 2016 at 6:16 am MaryLou

   What a treat!

   
   
2. on September 18, 2016 at 7:56 pm Blogfinger

   Kevin. I’m not big on Nat King Cole but I will post your request. Watch for it. (ps The name of the song is “The Very Thought of You)

   See you around the hood.

   Paul

   
   
3. on September 18, 2016 at 5:50 pm Kevin Chambers

   Paul, when my mother was a teenager she use to date a boy in high school that was so good on the sax that the jazz bands would let him join in with their bands when playing in Philadelphia. Billy Holiday was one of the singers she was lucky to hear live. Another great she was lucky to hear was Nat King Cole. How about playing something of his for your readers some time, like “Just The Thought Of You.”

   Kevin

   
   
4. on September 17, 2016 at 6:05 pm Blogfinger

   Reblogged this on Blogfinger and commented:

   This was first posted in April, 2015. I still see her over there packing groceries.

   
   
5. on April 4, 2015 at 9:38 am Lee

   Paul, A flash in time! Thank you for cracking the window onto your experience.

   Lee

   
   
6. on April 3, 2015 at 5:00 pm shamrocklil

   What a lovely brief encounter.
   FYI:
   Next Tuesday, Apr. 7th, will mark the 100th birthday of the incomparable and lovely Ms. Holiday.
   Another tidbit: Billy Crystal’s father was a jazz promotor and producer for a jazz record company named Commodore Records and often had Billie and some other jazz artists as guests in his home.
   But, even better than that, I’ve often seen (in interviews) Billy Crystal relate (if not positively and rightfully crow) that, often, his babysitter was Billie Holiday!
   Can you imagine?

   
   

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