This episode contains content that may be disturbing to some listeners.

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Disgrace Land is a production of Double Elvis.

The stories about Billy Holiday are insane.

She was institutionalized for being raped.

She ran errands for call girls at just six years old

and was later imprisoned for refusing to prostitute herself.

She had a heroin hound that inconspicuously delivered packets of

dope to her front door. Her double-crossing manager helped the feds bust her for narcotics

anyway. She was a master of her own sensuality, despite the trauma inflicted upon her as a young girl.

Billy Holiday grew up fast, but her voice was slow, sweet.

She sang jazz in a way that hung in the air, that mesmerized millions of people.

She could bring a room to a hush or a roar with a single syllable,

because Billy Holiday made great music.

Unlike that music I played for you at the top of the show,

that wasn't great music. That was a loop from my Melotron called Shortcake Strut MK1. I played

you that loop because I can't afford the rights to Mnana is soon enough for me by Peggy Lee.

And why would I play you that specific slice of sultry cheese could I afford it?

Because that was the number one song in America on March 27, 1948,

and that was the day Billy Holiday performed to a sold-out Carnegie Hall,

proving that no prison sentence, no betrayal, and no drug habit could keep her down.

On this episode, Call Girls, Heroin Hous, Betrayal, Bringing Down the House at Carnegie Hall and Billy Holiday.

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