Billie's Blues bad girls don't die 'Dear Marla

'Dear Marla

as music historians Margotin and Guesdon recount the circumstances that led to the composition of every song

" —George R

What no one knows is that when they were teenager

The book leads by example

Billie's Blues bad girls don't die 'Dear MarlaAnyone who has ever heard a Billie Holiday record knows the sound of her voice sad, sexy, always relaxed but securely aware of the beat. Conveying a poignancy that cut to the heart of a song, she redeemed even trivial material with her impeccable sense of dramatic phrasing and time. The well known tale of her lifelong battle with drugs has obscured the artistry that has made her one of the most revered singers of the twentieth century. Everyone from