In this episode, we hear about Billie's early days in Baltimore before she moves with her mother to Harlem. At the age of 18, John Hammond hears Billie singing at a small club in Harlem and immediatley arranges a recording session the then unknown Benny Goodman. There's also discussion of the opening of the integrated club Cafe Society in Greenwich Village and her courageous decision to sing "Strange Fruit", an allegory about lynching. Other things the series dive into includes her work with the great Big Bands of the era, the evolution of her voice, her tragic early death at the age of 44 and much more.
This episode includes comments by Prof. Robert O'Meally, Angela Davis, Dr. Farah Jasmine Griffin, Karrin Allyson, Phil Schaap, Lara Downes, Rene Marie, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Cassandra Wilson.
Episode 1 also has archival interviews that include comments by Harry "Sweets" Edison, Vernon Alley, Billie Eckstine, Barney Kessel, Annie Ross, Count Basie, and Carl Drinkard.
Veteran Jazz announcer Rhonda Hamilton is the host for all 13 programs in the series. Music selection and the scripts are done by NEA Jazz Master Willard Jenkins. The producer is Steve Robinson for New Media Productions in Boston. The series was made possible by a grant from Savage Content.
Airs Saturdays and Sundays on WBGO 88.3 FM, WBGO.org, and the WBGO app.