God Bless the Child (Billie Holiday song)

Billie Holiday recorded the song three times. First recording (Session #44, Columbia/Okeh): Columbia Studio A, 799 Seventh Avenue, New York City, May 9, 1941, Eddie Heywood and his Orchestra with Roy Eldridge (trumpet), Jimmy Powell and Lester Boone (alto saxophone), Ernie Powell (trumpet), Eddie Heywood (piano), Johan Robins (guitar), Paul Chapman (guitar), Grachan Moncur II (bass), Herbert Cowans (drums), Billie Holiday (vocal). == Origin and interpretation ==

In her autobiography Lady Sings the Blues, Holiday indicated that an argument with her mother over money led to the song. She stated that during the argument she said "God bless the child that's got his own." The anger over the incident led her to use that line as the starting point for a song, which she worked out in conjunction with Herzog. In his 1990 book Jazz Singing, Will Friedwald describes the song as "sacred and profane," as it references the Bible while indicating that religion seems to have no effect in making people treat each other better. ==Notable cover versions==

• 1959 – Trombonist J. J. Johnson recorded an emotion-filled instrumental ballad for his ''Really Livin''' album, several weeks before Holiday's death in March 1959. • 1961 – Saxophonist Eddie Harris recorded the song for his album Mighty Like a Rose; Harris's version received radio airplay. • 1983 - a fifteen-minute interpretation on Standards, Vol. 1, the inaugural album release by Keith Jarrett's Standards Trio with Gary Peacock and Jack De Johnette. • In the late 1980s, David Peaston won several competitions on the Showtime at the Apollo television show with a powerful rendition of the song, which was included on his 1989 debut album Introducing...David Peaston. ==References==