Michel Fontanes m'a adressé récemment une note pour faire le point de ses recherches sur cette mystèrieuse Billie Stewart, et ses premières conclusions après bientôt six mois d'investigations tout azimuth...

THE FACTS

About six months ago I purchased a 78RPM of a certain Billie Stewart, including " Gloomy Sunday " and " In my solitude ".
The voice on the record is so close to Billie Holiday's that there is really a possibility that Lady recorded these tracks under another name for whatever reason to be found.
A first and quick inquiry allowed to find that a female singer, Billie Stewart, had effectively recorded twice under the Savoy label:

- First on SAVOY 647, 18th January 1947, New York: - S 3400-1 Gloomy Sunday - S 3402-1 In my Solitude Voc acc by Ray Abrams orchestra: Fats Navarro (tp), Leonard Lowry (as), Ray Abrams (ts), Kenny Watts (p), Leonard Gaskin (b), Eddie Dougherty (dm). (this is the record I own). Both tracks are different from all Billie's recordings of these tunes and therefore would be original if sung by her.

- Then on SAVOY 692, 18th February 1949, New York: - S 36108: Porgy - S 36109: Day in, day out. (also S36106, I cried for you and S 36107, Hurry hom; both unissued). Voc acc by Leonard Hawkins (tp), Ray Abrams(ts), Coleman Hawkins(ts), Wynton Kelly(p),Leonard Gaskin (b), Lee Abrams (dm), Cecil Payne(bt).( I have not found yet this record).

Both recordings were directed by Terry Reig who was the A&R man for Savoy from 45 to 52, in charge of introducing to the label big jazz names. Besides the 3400 series was allocated in 1947.
In January 47, Billie was in New York, prior to her admission on May 28th at the prison of Alderson. More precisely, Billie appeared at Brooklyn's 13th regiment Armory on Saturday January 18th (source Lady Day's diary).
Also, in February 49, Billie was in New York and precisely closed at the Café Society on Tuesda y 22nd there.
At that time Billie was under contract with DECCA, but not always happy with them and she needed quick cash for her friend John Levy.
Therefore she physically could have done these recordings.

THE INQUIRY

I contacted several specialists of Billie and/or of recordings labels such as Ian Clayton, Christian Bonnet, Tom Lord, Peter Pullman, Serge Colson, and IAJRC specialists in order to find if anyone had ever heard of Billie Stewart as a professional singer ?
Many inquiries were conducted through web sites (such as lady-day.org) or via correspondents of Peter Pullman of a jazz musicians association.
Although Billie Stewart is listed on Tom Lord disco, among 115000 names and 108 "Stewart"!!! no one was able to provide information on this singer…real or virtual….

THE SAVOY 647 RECORDING. - "Gloomy Sunday" 2'57'' is very close to OKEH 6451 of 7/8/41 3'07". Lyrics are identical except when Holiday sings "gloomy is sunday" when Stewart sings "sunday is gloomy".Structure of the melody is identical...
"In my solitude" 2'49" is slightly different and shorter than OKEH 6270 of 9/5/41 3'10" all three takes and DECCA 73795 of 13/2/47 3'14".
When comparing both Billies some specialist find slight differences between the two singers.
I quote: - slight nasal quality to the voice different. - Tendency to hold the last syllable - Some tremolos the do not exist with Lady - Differences in the low register.
But there are as many specialists who find no difference or have many difficulties to find who are the two Billie in a blind test.

CONCLUSION

The definite answer could come if I succeed in finding the other record which I actively research. .
Tom Lord mentioned another Billie's imitator called " Miss Rhapsody"...
I hope Christian Bonnet finds room in his collection of "Masters of Jazz" to edit at least one track of Billie Stewart.
If not I shall probably put all versions on a CD-Rom and let it available for you.

Thanks for your help… Keep searching…

Michel Fontanes

Je me joins à Michel Fontanes pour remercier d'avance toux ceux qui pourraient nous apporter de nouvelles informations concernant ces enregistrements.

mfontanes@wanadoo.fr
webmaster@lady-day.org