Chronicles the rise and fall of legendary blues singer Billie Holiday, beginning with her traumatic youth. The story depicts her early attempts at a singing career and her eventual rise to stardom, as well as her difficult relationship with Louis McKay, her boyfriend and manager. Casting a shadow over even Holiday's brightest moments is the vocalist's severe drug addiction, which threatens to end both her career and her life.
Lady Sings the Blues
“Diana Ross is Billie Holiday. Diana Ross sings Billie Holiday. And a superstar is born.”
Overview
Chronicles the rise and fall of legendary blues singer Billie Holiday, beginning with her traumatic youth. The story depicts her early attempts at a singing career and her eventual rise to stardom, as well as her difficult relationship with Louis McKay, her boyfriend and manager. Casting a shadow over even Holiday's brightest moments is the vocalist's severe drug addiction, which threatens to end both her career and her life.
Director
Sidney J. Furie
Budget
2.0M
Revenue
19.7M
Status
Released
Production
Weston Productions, Jobete Productions, Motown Productions, Paramount Pictures, Sidney J. Furie Productions
Cast
Diana Ross
Billie Holiday
Billy Dee Williams
Louis McKay
Richard Pryor
Piano Man
James T. Callahan
Reg Hanley
Paul Hampton
Harry
Sid Melton
Jerry
Virginia Capers
Mama Holiday
Yvonne Fair
Yvonne
Isabel Sanford
The Madame
Tracee Lyles
The Prostitute
Ned Glass
The Agent
Milton Selzer
The Doctor
Norman Bartold
The Detective #1
Clay Tanner
The Detective #2
Jester Hairston
The Butler
Bert Kramer
The Policeman
Paul Micale
The Maitre d'
Michele Aller
The Singer
Byron Kane
The Announcer
Barbara Minkus
Radio Actress
Kay Lewis
Angela DeMarco
Helen Lewis
Debbie McGee
George Wyner
The M.C.
Shirley Melline
The Policewoman
Toby Russ
The Jail Guard
Larry Duran
Hood #1
Ernest Robinson
Hood #2
Don McGovern
Reporter #1
Dick Poston
Reporter #2
Charles Woolf
Reporter #3
Denise Denise
Denise
Lynn Hamilton
Aunt Ida
Victor Morosco
Vic
Robert L. Gordy
The Hawk
Harry Caesar
The Rapist
Paulene Myers
Mrs. Edson
Scatman Crothers
Big Ben
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