Billy Holiday was introduced to the song STRANGE FRUIT by the owner of NY’s integrated nightclub Cafe Society. The words came from a poem by a Jewish school teacher from the Bronx. According to Wikipedia she first performed the song in 1939 closing out her set in total darkness other than the light on her face. No drinks were served during the song and she never came back for an encore.
STRANGE FRUIT remains a powerful weapon by one woman fighting against the horror of racism.
Lady Day passed the song on through the ages.
To hear STRANGE FRUIT by Nina Simone please go to the following URL