Duke Ellington asked unknown Scottish singer Annie Ross to be Billie Holiday's stand-in at Harlem's Apollo. From 2017.
Andrew McGibbon analyses great artists at a significant time in their careers, but from the perspective of someone who worked for them, inspired them, employed them or did their job for them while no one was looking.
Annie Ross was a young singer from Scotland who found herself in a bigger spotlight when she was asked by Duke Ellington to stand-in for Billie Holliday at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York City.
She was petrified, but was well received by the audience. From there, Annie developed an intriguing relationship with Billie and as Billie's career nosedived with substance abuse and bad love, Annie's career as a singer took off as she created a new style of singing with her hit record Twisted.
This is a moving story of japes and heartbreak from a witness and friend of one of the most significant jazz singers of the 20th Century.
Written and presented by Andrew McGibbon
Producer: Nick Romero
A Curtains for Radio production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in 2017.
Last on
Broadcasts
Thu 25 May 201711:30BBC Radio 4- Tue 28 Nov 201716:00BBC Radio 4
- Tue 21 Oct 202510:30BBC Radio 4 Extra
- Tue 21 Oct 202516:30BBC Radio 4 Extra
- Wed 22 Oct 202500:30BBC Radio 4 Extra
