Some Kids In Italy Call Me 'mama

Once, When We Were Playing At The Apollo Theater, Holiday Was Working A Block Away At The Harlem Opera House. Some Of Us Went Over Between Shows To Catch Her, And Afterwards We Went Backstage. I Did Something Then, And I Still Don't Know If It Was The Right Thing To Do—i Asked Her For Her Autograph.

When We Were At The Apollo, Holiday Was A Block Away. I Asked Her For Her Autograph.

I Owe Marilyn Monroe A Real Debt … She Personally Called The Owner Of The Mocambo, And Told Him She Wanted Me Booked Immediately, And If He Would Do It, She Would Take A Front Table Every Night. She Told Him – And It Was True, Due To Marilyn’s Superstar Status – That The Press Would Go Wild. The Owner Said Yes, And Marilyn Was There, Front Table, Every Night. The Press Went Overboard. After That, I Never Had To Play A Small Jazz Club Again. She Was An Unusual Woman – A Little Ahead Of Her Times. And She Didn’t Know It.

I Don't Want To Say The Wrong Thing, Which I Always Do. I Think I Do Better When I Sing.

Some Kids In Italy Call Me 'mama Jazz; I Thought That Was So Cute. As Long As They Don't Call Me 'grandma Jazz.'