Billie Holiday Biography

Ella was one of the early “scat” performers. She carved out a niche for herself among the growing jazz innovators, making recordings with such jazz greats as Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, and Louis Armstrong. Her greatest contribution to jazz can found in her artistic renderings of songs of her time. Ella once said “the moment I hit the stage, it’s a different feeling.

Jazz, is a love story, a kind of Black romance, which was the result of Toni Morrison’s sudden interest in the photo of an 18 year old girl who died while dancing at a rent party. She was shot by her ex-boy friend. Jazz recounts the days of the Harlem Renaissance. Harlem a township near New York had become a center of African-American First World War years. Almost half a century after the Bill of Emancipation (1865), the blacks realized that their freedom without economic opportunity was a sick joke.

During her very successful career Bessie worked with many great jazz performers such as saxophonist Sidney Bechet, pianist James P. Johnson and pianist Fletcher Henderson. With Johnson, Bessie recorded one of her famous songs “Backwater Blues”. She also worked with the very famous jazz artist Louis Armstrong on several tracks including “Cold in Hand Blues” and “I Ain’t Got No Second Fiddle”. Her popularity with black and white audiences led her to be nicknamed the Empress of

Bessie recorded and performed with many famous artists including Clarence Williams, Louis Armstrong, and Fletcher Henderson's Band. Bessie also starred in the film "St. Louis Blues" in 1929. Bessie Smith died on September 26, 1937 when she was hit by a truck while driving with Richard Morgan. She was on her way to a show in Mississippi. She was taken to Clarksdale hospital where she died later that morning.

Maya Angelou was a strong African-American women who made an influential impact on the Civil Rights Movement, in bother her actions, and her literature. Her life experiences and courage helped others, and made her work influential. During Maya’s early life, she experienced many hardships that shaped her into the person many remember her as. Born on April 4, 1928, she only lived in St. Louis, MO for three years before her parents got divorced, and Maya, along with her mother and brother, moved in with her grandparents in Arkansas. At the age of eight, raped by her mother’s boyfriend, Maya learned the power that words possess.

The song “Caravan” by Duke Ellington performed by Ella Fitzgerald in this rendition has the lyrics written by Irving Mills. This classic song was released in 1937 but Fitzgerald didn’t complete her rendition until nearly 20 years later in 1957 accompanied by Ellington’s Orchestra in her Duke Ellington songbook album. This is a jazz piece of music with whimsical lyrics and a feeling that invokes an exotic atmosphere. On Ella’s rendition, she adds a big element of a swing sound into the piece and even though she does not need the big orchestra she still knows how to use it. Duke Ellington was born in Washington, D.C on April 29, 1899 to his two musically inclined parents.

The aspiration to conform and fulfill other’s expectations is the main focus in Stargirl, by Jerry Spinelli. Stargirl should not have changed to become more popular. Although her transition satisfied Leo, she was assertive and comfortable in her own skin. Stargirl’s individuality and distinction defined her, and she did not need to alter herself to gratify others.

The Roaring Twenties was a time for people to make their dreams come true and for people to try new things. This included three childhood best friends, Paul Mares, George Brunis, and Leon Roppolo, who created one of the most influential jazz bands of the early to mid 1920s (Yanow). It all started with them in a jazz venue located in the basement of Friar’s Inn in Chicago that what was popular for gangsters, businessmen, and just regular people who loved jazz. ( "Tin Roof Blues: The Story of the New Orleans Rhythm King 's"). Over time their group slowly grew into a larger orchestra.

In Chapter 19 when Beah goes to the pub we are shown the first glimpse of music in the community after the war. Beah even meets a girl named Zainab, but is not able to continue their relationship as she would, "ask to many questions." (Beah 184). And finally during Beah's trip to New York City for the UN conference, Beah and fifty six other children, "[sang] a chant [they] had come up with, they [they] [sang]; [they] then cried...laughed... [and] danced."

Guantanamera celebrates Cuban paradoxes in a comedy as well as in a serious tone about life,death, and politics. Tomas Gutierrez Alea did a tremendous job directing this film specifically for one element the motion in the film. Guantanamera, which means "a woman from Guantanamo," starts out with Gina, played by Mirtha Ibarra, awaiting her Aunt Yoyita in Guanatanamo. Yoyita is a famous singer living in Havana who has not been to Guantanamo in 50 years. She reunites with her old lover and unexpectedly dies when she sees a young girl.

She started performing in Winchester and soon married Gerald Cline. She was featured in Bill Peers Melody Playboys of Brunswick, Maryland. Bill got her a record contract with Four Star Records and her career took off. Her career really jump-started when she was featured on a tv show called Talent Scouts. Soon after she performed Walking After Midnight on the tv show it was released as a single.

but she always gave her fans more and more music to love. When Tina Turner got on stage it was like a whirlwind. She has so many artist that dedicate their career and achievements to her for her integrity and strength. The artist that I believe is most like her today is Beyonce. Beyonce is the diva she is fierce and unstoppable.

Alice walker an African American who was born on February 9, 1944, in Eatonton, Georgia. Was once a social worker, teacher and did lecture’s, took part in the civil rights movement in Mississippi. Alice walker was a great writer while she inspire tons of people with her work. Ms. Walker was the youngest daughter growing up with sharecroppers, Alice walker mother work as a maid to provide for eight children while still living poor. As a child Ms. Walker played around a lot with her older brother’s into one day an serious accident happen when one of her brother shoot a bb pellet at her and had hit her in the eye.

At a young age, she knew she had a unique voice, so she used it and with the help of her brother Andrew playing guitar, she became a street singer begging for money. Around 1920, she settled down in Philadelphia and in 1923 she married a man named Jack Gee. Later in that same year, someone from Columbia Records recording company found her and they decided to sign a contract for her. Her first song was called “Down-Hearted Blues” and it sold about 800,000 copies, making her famous. Bessie performed in many shows with people such as Louis Armstrong, Clarence Williams, and Fletcher Henderson’s band.

In 1936, he married Rebecca Ruffin and together they had two children. The couple got a divorce, and Parker remarried to Geraldine in 1942. Soon after their marriage they divorced. Parker then had his first recording session in1941. Blues, swing, and jazz would not be the same without Charlie Parker.