Thank You (THANK YOU!) for the Eva Cassidy content. I too am not familiar with this Platinum achieving artist and her wrenching story. I’ve downloaded several of her albums. Kathy’s Song is one of my very favorite songs and I feel Fields of Gold is most under-appreciated. I cannot wait to listen to much, much more and to share the music and the story with my three daughters. Really amazing. You’ve made my day (year), Ted. Again.
I have the book that her parents put together: EVA CASSIDY her story by those who knew her SONGBIRD ; published by Gotham Books ( div. Of Penguin). I picked up my copy as a ‘remainder’ years ago at a local bookstore. She was an amazing visual artist as well. Her paintings and drawings are worth the search for this book.
Cancer, it ravages, it destroys and brings down the best and brightest in their primes. It is in its relentless destruction of the body, mind, heart and ultimately soul of all it curses so arrogant as it holds itself out to be one of the top two causes of death in most of the world. It is most cruel to the poor for it is to its victims the truest meaning of being dispossessed. Criminally, the U.S. spends 6 billions dollars a year on cancer research about what we spent keeping armored weapons of war oiled in the Middle East. We've seen the TRILLIONS the U.S. government can be motivated to spend on disease when it's properly motivated by politics, greed and depravity.
One day punishment, justice and revenge WILL come but in the meantime we can cherish the beauty of lives and loves taken from us by this scourge. Our Angel of song Eva's Beautiful voice can sooth and remind us of the Hope that lives in the Passion of True Art, an Art that has no place for auto tuners, greed or self aggrandizement and for that we must be forever be grateful. RIP Angel and sing your songs from that place where cancer cannot enter and the wicked drown eternally in their own depravity.
As I sit here today, I lament, I have so enjoyed your articles that I decided to go back and pick up some I have yet had the pleasure of reading, and this one made my day, maybe my life. Some of us human critters get our heads down making a living, putting off our passions for want of a living just flat miss things, I sure as hell missed this creature from heaven. If it were not for your article I may have missed hearing one of the most phenomenal voices ever to sing a song. I am not a reactive or emotional person, I care about the human condition and am touched by truly meaningful stories of life, this is one of those. When I listened to the recordings I do not believe I have heard a singer put together all the pieces that make for a unique talent, I am stunned. Again thank you for enriching my life.
There were a few champions of Eva's music over here in Australia.
I bought most of her albums on the back of that airplay.
She was a diamond in the rough and sadly never saw the fruits of her success.
As far as not getting signed because of "no direction' I thought direction was what A and R people together with producers were meant to bring to the table.
Where is the old fashioned vision of companies like Blue Note and Atlantic.
Taking her song and then adding in background singers and horns might be sacreligious to some, but I really like this one. It's one more demonstration of just how versatile and brilliant she really was. This could have been a huge hit. Who cares if it's a cover? It's simply the most brilliant version of this song ever. https://youtu.be/XRNleKBDCNw
I can hardly believe that I got to be this many years old before I learned about Eva Cassiday! But I had no knowledge of her until I read this blog post. Now she is suddenly one of my all-time favorite musicians. What an incredible voice, but also what amazing feel for the music and how to interpret it. Her phrasing is a wonder.
These 25 years later, and with all that has been happening in Ukraine, this recording of Eva's extraordinary spirit filled "Rainbow" literally plunders one's emotions into an abyss of saudade both for her, and for all humanity who will never see their dreams come true. Astonishing. Thank you, Ted, for the wonderful article.
Listening to her never fails, as my wife likes to say, "get me straight in the feels." What an inspiration... and a huge loss that we'll never see what she would have been truly capable of.
Whenever I need to be uplifted I listen to Eva's singing . It never fails to brighten up my day. I have all that is available to buy at present. There is not a bad song on any album released. Special thanks to the person that filmed her Blues Alley Concert. It was so raw but so real at the same time. I have watched the DVD many times. It always get played to the end. Wish there was more.
Thanks Ted for reminding me of Eva Cassidy. I remember the posthumous buzz about her around the turn of the century. I sampled some of her material back then but at the time "I didn't get it". Now, having listened to the 25th anniversary of Live at Blues Alley multiple times thanks to your story, I am gobsmacked by her talent. It's not just her voice; she has a unique way of phrasing and rythmn and "space between the notes" that puts her stamp on old chestnuts such as "Cheek to Cheek" to make the song her own. I normally am not drawn to a "pure" voice like Eva's, preferring rather some "character" such as a Townes Van Zandt , Howe Gelb, or Sue Foley. But Eva is different. I think her sincerity and authenticity shines through. And her voice is magnificent! There is never a "reach" for a note with her; it's just flawless. She could have been the top at many styles of singing; jazz chanteuse, blues belter, or folk singer. And her having not been signed to a label because she didn't have a direction or was too "scattered" is a tragedy itself; a consequence of the sub-genre categorization of music. But what hope I take from her story is that there have got to be other "Evas" out there waiting to be "discovered". I have heard many artists on bandcamp and Spotify just by random chance that I prefer to the so-called "mainstream" artists of today. Let's hope the next "Eva" gets to enjoy her success during her lifetime.
Thanks Ted for your article about Eva. I especially liked the pictures that you chose. Eva's voice was absolutely remarkable! Here's a link to ABC Nightline's 2001 feature "The Eva Cassidy Story." Please make sure the sound is unmuted. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x36oe7p
Thanks for this lovely piece about Eva, and your follow-up the next day. I especially enjoyed your recollection of your conversation with Bruce Lundvall. (Note, you remark that "with all the other medical expenses, putting that money into a recording must have struck many as foolish." In fact, nobody had an inkling in January that the cancer had returned and that Eva would not survive the year. She had a cold, but was otherwise healthy for several more months. Also, Mick Fleetwood did know Eva, but not really all that well.) --LCB
DC Go Go music is not a widely known genre ... a little R&B, funk, and music that just doesn't stop ... because it is dance hall music first and foremost. And the person who made it most famous, even if he didn't invent it was Chuck Brown ... who was probably the most important person in Eva Cassidy's early career. It seems really strange ... but maybe it's just because they understood--like Duke said--that there's only two kinds of music--good and bad--and both Chuck and Eva made the latter kind and appreciated each other's efforts. See this: https://www.evacassidyfanclub.nl/blog/2012/05/obituary-chuck-brown-1936-2012/
Thank You (THANK YOU!) for the Eva Cassidy content. I too am not familiar with this Platinum achieving artist and her wrenching story. I’ve downloaded several of her albums. Kathy’s Song is one of my very favorite songs and I feel Fields of Gold is most under-appreciated. I cannot wait to listen to much, much more and to share the music and the story with my three daughters. Really amazing. You’ve made my day (year), Ted. Again.
I have the book that her parents put together: EVA CASSIDY her story by those who knew her SONGBIRD ; published by Gotham Books ( div. Of Penguin). I picked up my copy as a ‘remainder’ years ago at a local bookstore. She was an amazing visual artist as well. Her paintings and drawings are worth the search for this book.
Cancer, it ravages, it destroys and brings down the best and brightest in their primes. It is in its relentless destruction of the body, mind, heart and ultimately soul of all it curses so arrogant as it holds itself out to be one of the top two causes of death in most of the world. It is most cruel to the poor for it is to its victims the truest meaning of being dispossessed. Criminally, the U.S. spends 6 billions dollars a year on cancer research about what we spent keeping armored weapons of war oiled in the Middle East. We've seen the TRILLIONS the U.S. government can be motivated to spend on disease when it's properly motivated by politics, greed and depravity.
One day punishment, justice and revenge WILL come but in the meantime we can cherish the beauty of lives and loves taken from us by this scourge. Our Angel of song Eva's Beautiful voice can sooth and remind us of the Hope that lives in the Passion of True Art, an Art that has no place for auto tuners, greed or self aggrandizement and for that we must be forever be grateful. RIP Angel and sing your songs from that place where cancer cannot enter and the wicked drown eternally in their own depravity.
As I sit here today, I lament, I have so enjoyed your articles that I decided to go back and pick up some I have yet had the pleasure of reading, and this one made my day, maybe my life. Some of us human critters get our heads down making a living, putting off our passions for want of a living just flat miss things, I sure as hell missed this creature from heaven. If it were not for your article I may have missed hearing one of the most phenomenal voices ever to sing a song. I am not a reactive or emotional person, I care about the human condition and am touched by truly meaningful stories of life, this is one of those. When I listened to the recordings I do not believe I have heard a singer put together all the pieces that make for a unique talent, I am stunned. Again thank you for enriching my life.
There were a few champions of Eva's music over here in Australia.
I bought most of her albums on the back of that airplay.
She was a diamond in the rough and sadly never saw the fruits of her success.
As far as not getting signed because of "no direction' I thought direction was what A and R people together with producers were meant to bring to the table.
Where is the old fashioned vision of companies like Blue Note and Atlantic.
Taking her song and then adding in background singers and horns might be sacreligious to some, but I really like this one. It's one more demonstration of just how versatile and brilliant she really was. This could have been a huge hit. Who cares if it's a cover? It's simply the most brilliant version of this song ever. https://youtu.be/XRNleKBDCNw
I can hardly believe that I got to be this many years old before I learned about Eva Cassiday! But I had no knowledge of her until I read this blog post. Now she is suddenly one of my all-time favorite musicians. What an incredible voice, but also what amazing feel for the music and how to interpret it. Her phrasing is a wonder.
These 25 years later, and with all that has been happening in Ukraine, this recording of Eva's extraordinary spirit filled "Rainbow" literally plunders one's emotions into an abyss of saudade both for her, and for all humanity who will never see their dreams come true. Astonishing. Thank you, Ted, for the wonderful article.
Listening to her never fails, as my wife likes to say, "get me straight in the feels." What an inspiration... and a huge loss that we'll never see what she would have been truly capable of.
Whenever I need to be uplifted I listen to Eva's singing . It never fails to brighten up my day. I have all that is available to buy at present. There is not a bad song on any album released. Special thanks to the person that filmed her Blues Alley Concert. It was so raw but so real at the same time. I have watched the DVD many times. It always get played to the end. Wish there was more.
Thanks Ted for reminding me of Eva Cassidy. I remember the posthumous buzz about her around the turn of the century. I sampled some of her material back then but at the time "I didn't get it". Now, having listened to the 25th anniversary of Live at Blues Alley multiple times thanks to your story, I am gobsmacked by her talent. It's not just her voice; she has a unique way of phrasing and rythmn and "space between the notes" that puts her stamp on old chestnuts such as "Cheek to Cheek" to make the song her own. I normally am not drawn to a "pure" voice like Eva's, preferring rather some "character" such as a Townes Van Zandt , Howe Gelb, or Sue Foley. But Eva is different. I think her sincerity and authenticity shines through. And her voice is magnificent! There is never a "reach" for a note with her; it's just flawless. She could have been the top at many styles of singing; jazz chanteuse, blues belter, or folk singer. And her having not been signed to a label because she didn't have a direction or was too "scattered" is a tragedy itself; a consequence of the sub-genre categorization of music. But what hope I take from her story is that there have got to be other "Evas" out there waiting to be "discovered". I have heard many artists on bandcamp and Spotify just by random chance that I prefer to the so-called "mainstream" artists of today. Let's hope the next "Eva" gets to enjoy her success during her lifetime.
Thanks Ted for your article about Eva. I especially liked the pictures that you chose. Eva's voice was absolutely remarkable! Here's a link to ABC Nightline's 2001 feature "The Eva Cassidy Story." Please make sure the sound is unmuted. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x36oe7p
I remember terry wogan playing her track on the radio for the first time and it just went ballistic from then on ❤
Thanks for this lovely piece about Eva, and your follow-up the next day. I especially enjoyed your recollection of your conversation with Bruce Lundvall. (Note, you remark that "with all the other medical expenses, putting that money into a recording must have struck many as foolish." In fact, nobody had an inkling in January that the cancer had returned and that Eva would not survive the year. She had a cold, but was otherwise healthy for several more months. Also, Mick Fleetwood did know Eva, but not really all that well.) --LCB
DC Go Go music is not a widely known genre ... a little R&B, funk, and music that just doesn't stop ... because it is dance hall music first and foremost. And the person who made it most famous, even if he didn't invent it was Chuck Brown ... who was probably the most important person in Eva Cassidy's early career. It seems really strange ... but maybe it's just because they understood--like Duke said--that there's only two kinds of music--good and bad--and both Chuck and Eva made the latter kind and appreciated each other's efforts. See this: https://www.evacassidyfanclub.nl/blog/2012/05/obituary-chuck-brown-1936-2012/