Billie experienced racism throughout her life, parental misguidance, marital problems and partner abuse, substance abuse, law enfordcement scrutiny, a year in prison and more. These troubles come to light in this episode. Along with comments by Robert O'Meally, Dr. Farah Jasmine Griffin and Dan Morgenstern, we'll hear songs including "Why Was I Born", "Don't Explain", "I'm Painting the Town Red", "No Good Man", "I Must Have That Man", and others.
This episode also includes archival interviews from Leonard Feather, Memry Midgett, Ruby Davis, Corky Hale, John Hammond, Arthur Herzog, and others.
Airs Saturdays and Sundays on WBGO 88.3 FM, WBGO.org, and the WBGO app.