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Eva Cassidy

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Eva Cassidy

Eva Marie Cassidy (February 2, 1963 – November 2, 1996) was an American vocalist known for her interpretations of jazz, blues, folk, gospel, country and pop classics. She released her first album The Other Side, a duet album with go-go musician Chuck Brown in 1992 followed by a live solo album, Live at Blues Alley in 1996. Cassidy remained virtually unknown outside her native Washington, DC, when she died of melanoma in 1996.

Four years later, Cassidy's music was brought to the attention of UK audiences when her versions of "Over the Rainbow" and "Fields of Gold" were played on BBC Radio 2. Following the overwhelming response, a camcorder recording of "Over the Rainbow" taken at the Blues Alley recording, was shown on BBC Two's Top of the Pops 2. Shortly after, the compilation album Songbird, climbed to the top of the UK Albums Charts, almost three years after its initial release. The chart success in the United Kingdom led to increased recognition worldwide; as of 2003, her posthumously released recordings, including three UK #1s, have sold around six million copies.[2] Her music has also charted top 10 positions in Australia, Germany, Sweden, Norway and Switzerland.[2]

Biography

Early life

Born on February 2, 1963 at the Washington Hospital Center,[3] Eva Marie Cassidy was the third of four children to Hugh and Barbara Cassidy. Her father of Scottish and Irish descent is a retired teacher, sculptor, musician and former army medic while her German-born mother was a horticulturist.[2][4][5] From an early age, she displayed interest in art and music. When she was nine-years-old, her father taught her to play the guitar, and she began to play and sing at family gatherings.[4]

While a student at Bowie High School, she sang with a local band called Stonehenge.[4] Due to her shyness, she struggled with performing in front of strangers. At age 11, Cassidy began her professional career, singing and playing guitar in a Washington area band called Easy Street.[6] This band performed in a variety of styles, at weddings, corporate parties, and pubs. During the summer of 1983, Cassidy sang and played guitar six days a week at the theme park Wild World.[4] Her younger brother Dan, a fiddler was also a member of this working band. She enrolled in art classes at a community college but dropped out after finding them unhelpful.[7]

Throughout the 1980s, Cassidy worked with several other bands, including the techno-pop band Characters Without Names. During this period, Cassidy also worked as a propagator at a plant nursery and as a furniture painter. In her free time, she explored other artistic expressions including painting, sculpting and jewellery design.[7] Despite holding a belief in God, Cassidy was not part of any organised religion.[8]

Music career

In 1986, Cassidy was asked by Stonehenge guitarist and high school friend David Lourim to lend her voice to his music project, Method Actor.[9] This brought her to Black Pond Studios, where she met bassist and recording engineer Chris Biondo. Biondo helped her find work as a session singer and later introduced her to Al Dale, who would become her manager. She sang back-ups for various acts from go-go rhythm and blues band Experience Unlimited to rapper E-40.[10] Biondo and Cassidy who were for a time, in a romantic relationship, formed the five-piece "Eva Cassidy Band" with Lenny Williams, Keith Grimes and Raice McLeod in 1990, and they began to perform frequently in the Washington area.[4]

In 1992, Biondo played a tape of Cassidy's voice for Chuck Brown, best known as the "Godfather of go-go".[11] This led to the first commercial recording of Cassidy, the duet album with Chuck Brown, The Other Side; which featured performances of classic songs such as "Fever", "God Bless the Child" and what would later become her signature tune "Over the Rainbow". The album was released and distributed in 1992 by Liaison Records, the label that also released Brown's Go-go albums. The original plan was to be for Brown to include a Cassidy and Brown duet in his next solo album, but that was held off due to ongoing negotiations between Dale and other labels for a solo deal.[10][12] Cassidy's unwillingness to narrow her stylistic focus to one genre hindered her chances of securing a deal.[13][14] Eventually talks broke down and they decided to record their own duet album. As a duo, they performed at the Columbia Arts Festival and opened for acts like Al Green and The Neville Brothers.[10]

In 1993, Eva Cassidy was honored by the Washington Area Music Association with a Wammie award for the Vocalist Jazz/Traditional category.[15] The next year she was invited to perform at the event and chose to sing "Over the Rainbow". A Washington Times review of the event called her performance "a show-stopper".[16] She took home two Wammies that night, again for Vocalist Jazz/Traditional and also for Roots Rock/Traditional R&B.[15] For a brief period that year, Cassidy signed a deal with Blue Note Records to pair up with pop-jazz band Pieces of a Dream to release an album and tour the country. She sang two tracks in a mainly instrumental album. It was a musically unsatisfying experience for her.[10]

After having a potential contract with Apollo Records collapse when the label went bankrupt, Biondo and Dale decided that she should release her own live album.[10] In January 1996, the material for Live at Blues Alley was recorded over a two-day period at Blues Alley, Washington, D.C.. Due to a technical glitch on the first night of recording,[17] only the second night recording was usable. Unhappy with the way she sounded due to a cold, she was reluctant to release the album. Only after some persuasion did she relent, on the condition that the studio track "Oh, I had a Golden Thread" would be included in the release and that she be allowed to start working on a follow-up studio album.[10][7] Her apprehension appeared unfounded as local reviewers and the public responded positively.[7] In one of the first published news article on Eva Cassidy, The Washington Post commented that "she could sing anything -- folk, blues, pop, jazz, R&B, gospel -- and make it sound like it was the only music that mattered".[11] The album she worked on was released as Eva by Heart posthumously in 1997. In the liner notes of Eva by Heart, critic Joel Siegel described Cassidy as "one of the greatest voices of her generation".[7]

Death

During a promotional event for the Live at Blues Alley album in July 1996, Cassidy noticed an ache in her hips, which she attributed to stiffness from painting murals perched atop a stepladder.[11] The pain persisted and a few weeks later, Cassidy was diagnosed with melanoma. By the time of her diagnosis, the cancer had already metastasised; just three years earlier, she had a malignant mole removed from her back.[2] The doctors gave her three to five months to live. Cassidy opted for aggressive treatment, but her health deteriorated rapidly. In her final public performance in September 1996, at the Bayou, she closed the set with Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" in front of an audience of friends and family.[1] She was subsequently admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital.[11]

Eva Cassidy died at her family home in Bowie, November 2, 1996, at the age of 33. She was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Washington Area Music Association.[18] According to her wishes, Cassidy’s body was cremated. Her ashes were scattered on the shores of St. Mary's River Watershed Park, a nature preserve near California, Maryland.[2]

Posthumous recognition

After Eva Cassidy's death, local folk singer Grace Griffith introduced the Blues Alley recording to Bill Straw from her label, Blix Street Records.[1] Straw soon approached the Cassidy family to put together a new album. In 1998, a compilation of tracks from Cassidy's three released recordings was assembled into the CD Songbird. This CD lingered in relative obscurity for two years until being given airplay by Terry Wogan on his wide-reaching[19] BBC Radio 2 show Wake Up to Wogan, following recommendation by his producer Paul Walters. The album sold more than 100,000 copies in the following months.[2] The New York Times spoke of her "silken soprano voice with a wide and seemingly effortless range, unerring pitch and a gift for phrasing that at times was heart-stoppingly eloquent".[1]

Before Christmas of 2000, Top Of The Pops 2 aired a video of Cassidy performing "Over the Rainbow", which resulted in Songbird climbing steadily up the UK charts over the next few weeks. Just as ITV's Tonight with Trevor McDonald aired a feature on Cassidy, the album topped the chart.[20] Shot at the Blues Alley by a friend with a camcorder the same night the album was recorded,[2] the black-and-white video became the most requested video ever shown on Top Of The Pops 2.[21] "There's an undeniable emotional appeal in hearing an artist who you know died in obscurity singing a song about hope and a mystical world beyond everyday life", wrote The Guardian.[22]

The black-and-white camcorder recording of "Over the Rainbow" as shown on Top of the Pops 2

Songbird has since achieved significant chart success throughout Europe and quadruple platinum status in the UK. Although still relatively unknown in the United States at that time, the album would eventually be certified gold.[23] Sherri Dalphonse of Washingtonian.com writes, "Some may wonder if Cassidy's death at the age of 33 accounts for some of the popularity. No doubt her life story is part of it. But articles about her haven't boosted sales as much as when her songs are played on the BBC or NPR. Hearing about Eva Cassidy isn't as powerful as hearing her."[4] Since Songbird, several other CDs have been released: Time After Time (2000), Imagine (2002) and American Tune (2003).

In May 2001, ABC's Nightline in the United States broadcast a well-received[24] short documentary about Cassidy. Over the weekend, all five of Cassidy's albums occupied Amazon.com's best sellers list top spots.[25]The Nightline episode has since been rebroadcast thrice due to popular demand. A rebroadcast of the Tonight with Trevor McDonald feature on Cassidy in Britain resulted in a similar sales surge.[26] Together with word of mouth and internet fansites, the role of online commerce has played a big part in Cassidy's success.[27][28][29] This point was further affirmed when in 2005, Amazon.com released a list of its top 25 best-selling musicians, which placed Cassidy in 5th position, behind The Beatles, U2, Norah Jones and Diana Krall.[30]

Unofficial releases

The re-released Method Actor album cover, showing Cassidy's prominent name placement, which resulted in the lawsuit. The original LP cover contained the same artwork, which was done by Cassidy

A collection of previously unreleased studio recordings from 1987 to 1991, was released in 2000 as No Boundaries. This release was not endorsed by the Cassidy family[2] and was released under a different label. An allmusic review of the album stated that even "a gifted vocalist like Eva Cassidy can only do so much with bad material".[31] In 2002, the self titled 1988 album by the band Method Actor, which Cassidy sang for, was re-released by the band's guitarist and producer David Lourim. Cassidy's name was featured prominently on the cover, which led to the Cassidy family and Blix Street Records filing a lawsuit against Lourim[32], claiming that Cassidy's name was used in a misleading fashion. Eventually the cover was changed to look like the original LP album.[33]

In 2001, a book entitled Songbird: Eva Cassidy: Her Story By Those Who Knew Her, on the life and work of Cassidy based on interviews with close family and associates was released in the UK. The hardcover edition has since sold in excess of 100,000 copies. A U.S. edition published by Gotham Books was released in late 2003 and includes two additional chapters on her influences and success in the US. Her life story has also been adapted into a musical[34] and also a Broadway piece for cancer benefit.[35]

At the 2002 Winter Olympics gala, and later on tour, figure skater Michelle Kwan brought Cassidy's music to a new audience when she skated to a recording of "Fields of Gold". Kwan's part in exposing the music of Cassidy to the international and American public led Cassidy's label to present her a gold record from the certification of Songbird.[36] Subsequently, other figure skaters such as Kristi Yamaguchi, Sarah Hughes and Kimmie Meissner have also used Cassidy's music in their routines.

Anglo-Georgian singer Katie Melua is a keen fan of Cassidy.[37] Her debut album "Call off the Search" contained the song "Faraway Voice", written in Cassidy's memory.[37] Melua has also performed Cassidy's arrangement of "Anniversary Song" in concert.[37] On Christmas Eve 2006, she performed alongside video footage of Cassidy singing Over The Rainbow on BBC One's "Duet Impossible".[38] One year later, Cassidy's "What A Wonderful World" was spliced together with new vocals by Melua and released as a single exclusively at the British retail chain Tesco. It debuted at #1 on the UK Singles chart on December 16. All profits from the single went to the British Red Cross.[39] Irish singer Chris de Burgh has stated that his song "Songbird" from his album The Road to Freedom was written in honour of Cassidy. Singer Mary Chapin Carpenter made reference to Cassidy in the song "My Heaven" on the album Between Here and Gone: "More memories than my heart can hold, when Eva's singing 'Fields of Gold'."

The first film to feature an Eva Cassidy's recording was the comedy Joe Somebody. Since then her music has appeared in various film and tv series including Love Actually, Maid in Manhattan and Smallville. Cassidy's arrangement of "Over the Rainbow" is a popular cover choice by singing competition contestants, with American Idol season 5 runner-up Katharine McPhee and The X Factor season 3 winner Leona Lewis among the numbers. Her interpretation of "Imagine" has been performed by American Idol season 7 contestant David Archuleta.

Possibility of future film

In late 2007, AIR Productions acquired the rights to produce a film based on the life of Eva Cassidy.[40] It is being produced by Amy Redford (daughter of Robert Redford), Irwin Shapiro and Rick Singer.[41] In an interview a year earlier, Cassidy's parents suggested Kirsten Dunst or Emily Watson as possible actresses who could play their daughter.[42]

Discography

Albums

Title Release date Label Notes
The Other Side 1992 Liaison Chuck Brown with Eva Cassidy.
Live at Blues Alley 1997 Blix Street Originally released under Eva Music in 1996.
Eva by Heart 1997 Blix Street/Hot Eva's only studio album. Originally released under Liaison Records.
Songbird 1998 Blix Street/Hot Compilation. UK #1
Time After Time 2000 Blix Street/Hot UK #25
No Boundaries 2000 Renata/Brunswick
Method Actor 2002 Blp Method Actor featuring Eva Cassidy. Reissue of a 1988 album.
Imagine 2002 Blix Street/Hot UK #1
American Tune 2003 Blix Street/Hot UK #1
Wonderful World 2004 Blix Street/Hot Compilation. UK #11

Singles

Title Release date Label Notes
"Over the Rainbow" 2001 UK #42
"Take My Breath Away" 2003 UK #54
"What a Wonderful World" 2007 Dramatico duet with Katie Melua. UK #1

Bootleg

Title Release date Label Notes
Live at Pearl's 1994 - bootleg recording taped at Pearl's Restaurant in Annapolis, Maryland. Tracklist

Videography

  • Eva Cassidy Sings (2004) – A single-camera video recorded at Blues Alley the same nights as the live album in January 1996.

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d In Death, A Shy Singer Finally Grabs The Spotlight; CD's Carry Eva Cassidy's Voice a Wider Audience Alex Ward, New York Times, August 12, 2002. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i The Afterlife of Eva Cassidy (PDF) Dorian Lynske, Word Magazine, 2003. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  3. ^ Burley et al. p.13.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Songbird Sherri Dalphonse, Washingtonian.com, May 1, 2001. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  5. ^ Burley et al. p.12.
  6. ^ Burley et al. p.54–56.
  7. ^ a b c d e Liner notes Joel Siegel, Eva by Heart. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  8. ^ Burley et al. p.165.
  9. ^ Burley et al. p.64.
  10. ^ a b c d e f When Chuck Met Eva Jefferson Morley, Washington Post, March 8, 1998. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  11. ^ a b c d Echoes of a Voice Stilled Too Early Richard Harrington, The Washington Post, November 17, 1996. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  12. ^ Side by Side Alona Wartofsky, Washington City Paper, November 20, 1992. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  13. ^ Over the Rainbow Jeff Chu, Time, April 9, 2001. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  14. ^ Eva Cassidy's Gift Joan Anderman, Boston Globe, January 31, 1999. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  15. ^ a b Wammie Winners Washington Area Music Association. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  16. ^ Wammies honor area musicians. Washington Times. November 9, 1994.
  17. ^ Eva Cassidy: "Oh, Had I a Golden Thread" evacassidy.org. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  18. ^ Eva Cassidy Biography Washington Area Music Association. 1997. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  19. ^ Wogan show draws record numbers BBC News, January 27, 2005. Retrieved on March 17, 2008.
  20. ^ Burley et al. p.155.
  21. ^ Eva Cassidy's producer Chris Biondo talks to Toby Foster BBC Radio, July 2002. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  22. ^ Albums from the crypt Guardian, November 1, 2002. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  23. ^ RIAA Gives Thanks For Strong Gold and Platinum Numbers In November RIAA News Room. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  24. ^ Nightline Daily Email: 7/2 Leroy Sievers. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  25. ^ 'Nightline' Boosts Cassidy Bill Holland, Billboard Bulletin, May 30, 2001. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  26. ^ The Official UK Albums Chart Top 75 Music Week, August 25, 2001. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  27. ^ Online, Eva Cassidy Trumps Elvis Joel Topcik, New York Times, July 24, 2004. Retrieved on March 14, 2008.
  28. ^ Internet fuels singer's posthumous success. The Deseret News, March 11, 2001.
  29. ^ Keeping the flame Mike Anderiesz, The Guardian, April 4, 2002. Retrieved on March 14, 2008.
  30. ^ Amazon.com Inducts 25 Musicians into Hall of Fame Business Wire, July 11, 2005. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  31. ^ Review of No Boundaries William Cooper, allmusic. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  32. ^ Hugh Cassidy, et al. v. David Lourim, et al. (PDF) United States district court for the district of Maryland. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  33. ^ Method Actor evacassidy.org. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  34. ^ Musical charts life of songstress Eva Cassidy Grantham Journal, March 13, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2008
  35. ^ Eva Cassidy Remembered Broadwayworld.com, January 26, 2005. Retrieved March 17, 2008
  36. ^ Blix Street Records Presents Kwan with Gold Record for Cassidy's 'Songbird' Album Press release. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  37. ^ a b c Review: Katie Melua in concert Neil Smith, BBC News Online, March 17, 2004. Retrieved March 17, 2008.
  38. ^ BBC Duet Impossible steve-smith.tv. Retrieved on March 18, 2008
  39. ^ Melua duet headed for number one BBC News, December 12, 2007. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  40. ^ Sheboygan native receives leadership award Warren Gerds, Green Bay Press-Gazette, November 25, 2007. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  41. ^ Eva Cassidy biopic in the works., Michael Fleming, Variety, December 7, 2007. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  42. ^ Local Singer's Career Takes Off After Death, Eva Cassidy's Story To Be Told In Hollywood nbc4.com, November 2, 2006. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.

Book

  • Rob Burley (2003). Eva Cassidy: Songbird: Her Story by Those Who Knew Her. Gotham Books. ISBN 978-1592400355. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

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