text: Richard Phelps' Lifestream: February 2010
  Whilst doing a bit of research, and trying desperately trying to find her original version of "That Ole Devil Called Love", I became familiar with the story of Billie Holiday. A great talent who often had the pros dumbfounded of her abilities in singing. Her full autobiography reveals some great examples.
  Billie Holiday's grandfather was one of 17 children of a black Virginia slave and a white Irish plantation owner. Her mother was only 13 when she was born.
  "Singing songs like the 'The Man I Love' or 'Porgy' is no more work than sitting down and eating Chinese roast duck, and I love roast duck," she wrote in her autobiography. "I've lived songs like that." Her own compositions included "God Bless the Child," espousing the virtues of financial independence and "Don't Explain," lament on infidelity.