Early 1939. The lights go down at New York’s Cafe Society. The waiters hush the drinking audience, a single small spotlight shines on her face. And Billy Holiday begins to sing. “Southern trees, bears strange fruit blood on the leaves, blood at the root.” The song ends, and the spotlight goes out. Billy leaves the …

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The post Soundtrack to the Struggle: Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit” appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.