Good Morning Heartache
Encyclopedia
"Good Morning Heartache" (Decca Records
) is a song written by Irene Higgenbotham
, Ervin Drake
, and Dan Fisher. Originally recorded by jazz
singer Billie Holiday
on January 22, 1946.
Session #54) New York
, January 22, 1946: with Gordon ‘Chris’ Griffin (trumpet), Joe Guy (trumpet) Bill Stegmeyer
(alto saxophone), Hank Ross (tenor saxophone), Bernie Kaufman (tenor saxophone), Armand Camgros (tenor saxophone), Joe Springer (piano), Tiny Grimes
(guitar), John Simmons (bass), Sidney Catlett (drums), Billie Holiday (vocal) + 4 strings
/soul
singer Diana Ross
, when she portrayed Holliday in the biopic, Lady Sings the Blues, in 1972
, starring with Billy Dee Williams. Released as a single later on that year to promote the movie, Ross brought jazz back to the pop and R&B audiences, sending it to numbers 20 and 34 on the R&B and Pop charts respectively.
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
) is a song written by Irene Higgenbotham
Irene Higgenbotham
Irene Higginbotham was an American songwriter and concert pianist...
, Ervin Drake
Ervin Drake
Ervin Drake, born Ervin Maurice Druckman is an American songwriter whose works include such American Songbook standards as "It Was a Very Good Year". He has written in a variety of styles and his work has been recorded by musicians from all over the world in a multitude of styles...
, and Dan Fisher. Originally recorded by jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
singer Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
on January 22, 1946.
About the songwriters
- Irene HiggenbothamIrene HiggenbothamIrene Higginbotham was an American songwriter and concert pianist...
(1918-1988) was a songwriterSongwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and pianistPianistA pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, and joined the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) in 1944.
- Ervin DrakeErvin DrakeErvin Drake, born Ervin Maurice Druckman is an American songwriter whose works include such American Songbook standards as "It Was a Very Good Year". He has written in a variety of styles and his work has been recorded by musicians from all over the world in a multitude of styles...
(born April 3, 1919) songwriterSongwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and inducted into the Songwriters Hall of FameSongwriters Hall of FameThe Songwriters Hall of Fame is an arm of the National Academy of Popular Music. It was founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer and music publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond. The goal is to create a museum but as of April, 2008, the means do not yet exist and so instead it is an online...
in 1983. Joining the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) in 1958.
- Dan Fisher (1920-2001) was a songwriterSongwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, authorAuthorAn author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, producer and publisher. Joining American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) in 1953.
Recording session
Bill Stegmeyer and his Orchestra (DeccaDecca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
Session #54) New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, January 22, 1946: with Gordon ‘Chris’ Griffin (trumpet), Joe Guy (trumpet) Bill Stegmeyer
Bill Stegmeyer
Bill Stegmeyer was an American jazz clarinetist and arranger.Stegmeyer attended Transylvania College from 1934 to 1936, and following his studies played with Austin Wylie , Glenn Miller , and Bob Crosby...
(alto saxophone), Hank Ross (tenor saxophone), Bernie Kaufman (tenor saxophone), Armand Camgros (tenor saxophone), Joe Springer (piano), Tiny Grimes
Tiny Grimes
Lloyd "Tiny" Grimes was an American jazz and R&B guitarist. He was a member of the Art Tatum Trio from 1943 to 1944, was a backing musician on recording sessions, and later led his own bands, including a recording session with Charlie Parker...
(guitar), John Simmons (bass), Sidney Catlett (drums), Billie Holiday (vocal) + 4 strings
Diana Ross version
The song was revived by R&BRhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
/soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
, when she portrayed Holliday in the biopic, Lady Sings the Blues, in 1972
1972 in music
-Events:*January 17 – Highway 51 South in Memphis, Tennessee is renamed "Elvis Presley Boulevard"*January 20 – The début of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon at The Dome, Brighton, is halted by technical difficulties,...
, starring with Billy Dee Williams. Released as a single later on that year to promote the movie, Ross brought jazz back to the pop and R&B audiences, sending it to numbers 20 and 34 on the R&B and Pop charts respectively.
Notable cover versions
A partial list includes:- Joe WilliamsJoe Williams (jazz singer)Joe Williams was a well-known jazz vocalist, a baritone singing a mixture of blues, ballads, popular songs, and jazz standards.-Early life:...
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(2010) - and others