Sweets Edison Quotes

"Billie [Holiday] was a fantastic singer and a beautiful Lady. One of the highlights of my career was when she sang “Lover Man” and asked me to play with her. Can you imagine that? I was certainly the youngest cat in the band. Wow!" - Sweets Edison

Artie Shaw Quotes

"I knew that was going to be kind of scandalous, but she was a good singer." - Artie Shaw (on his decision to ask Billie Holiday to sing on 'Any Old Time' with his all-white band in 1938)

source: Interview with NPR (March 8, 2002)

Ella Fitzgerald Quotes

"Once, when we were playing at the Apollo, [Billie] Holiday was working a block away at the Harlem Opera House. Some of us went over between shows to catch her, and afterwards we went backstage. I did something then, and I still don’t know if it was the right thing to do - I asked her for her autograph." - Ella Fitzgerald

Frank Sinatra Quotes

"It is Billie Holiday who was, and still remains, the greatest single musical influence on me." - Frank Sinatra

Madeleine Peyroux Quotes

"I listened to Billie Holiday a lot in order to learn to sing. She remains one of the extraordinary jazz singers. But my intent is to become my own voice, to be able to interpret these songs in my own way." - Madeleine Peyroux