EVA CASSIDY: SongBird:  by those who knew her

Literature: by Joseph Aloysius

EVA CASSIDY

SongBird:  by those who knew her

Looking down yesterday as Norman Warwick was pretending to be some Hemingway reincarnation, with a cigar fuming in his ash tray and a four finger tumbler of whiskey on his work desk as he typed, one fingered, on his desk top, I was surprised to see him suddenly leave his work station and head off down to Jazz Junction, where the world revolves and the music evolves.

I´m not sure jazz musicians are allowed through the Pearly Gates up here, but I´m certain that I´ve bumped into Eva Cassidy wandering round the grounds, and somebody told me she could sing anything when she was down living among you, from folk, to country, to blues and to jazz.

So, I was not too surprised to watch Norman  return home from Jazz Junction with a book in his hand about Eva, and his bag of tools in the other hand ready to start building a bigger  bookshelf.

I ghosted in behind him in his workroom and watched him chip out, screw in and hammer down whilst sitting close by but invisibly, to read this book about someone I had never heard of whilst on earth. It was immediately apparent to me from this collation of memories of her by fans, friends and family, that as both an artist and a person Eva Cassidy was much loved.

Eva died in 1996 from melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. Her music was little-known during her 33 years of life, but today her soul-stirring voice is reaching people all over the world.

For some fans, the pleasure of listening is enough. Others want to know more: “Who was this remarkable singer? Why haven’t we heard of her before? Are there more albums?” Her web page can be your gateway to the music of Eva Cassidy.

There is of course a rudimentary listing of the albums Eva recorded in life and those that have been collated in her death. A Guestbook feature  reveals what fans who actually heard her play, and those who only came to know her music after her death, pay tribute to the singer. The site also houses or points to other other sources of text about Eva.

There are some fascinating and exclusive interviews with musicians who played alongside or recorded with Eva and  an excellent question and answer section on which fans can seek further information.

And, of course, the book Norman  collected from jazz Junction is another valuable source of information. 

so we´re gonna need a bigger bookshelf

for Eva Cassidy: Songbird: By Those Who Knew Her

Authorized by Hugh and Barbara Cassidy 

Eva Cassidy is a phenomenon. Her album SONGBIRD topped the charts and has gone platinum. All her other albums have reached the Top 40, SONGBIRD selling 950,000 in 18 months. Her voice was voted was of the ‘greatest of her generation’ and her rendition of OVER THE RAINBOW is one of the most requested videos in TOP OF THE POPS’ history. Her success is even more amazing since she has reached the top without expensive marketing campaigns; Her success has come through the quality of her voice and word of mouth. Eva’s story is the most astonishing in that in 1996 she died of cancer at the age of 33, virtually unknown outside the Washington area where she grew up and performed. It was only when Terry Wogan later played her version of OVER THE RAINBOW that her incredible career really began. Her fans know little about Eva partly because her friends and family are naturally reticent and wish to honor the memory of her.

PRESS: DAILY EXPRESS: double-page feature by Jonathan Maitland – 6 September

SUNDAY TIMES: news piece about proposed Eva Cassidy film

NOTTINGHAM EVENING POST: review and competition

HARTLEPOOL MAIL: review

MAGAZINES: HELLO: interview with Eva’s parents – August

YORKSHIRE LIFE: review and competition

RADIO: BBC: Radio 5 Nicky Campbell show – interview with the authors

BBC London Live Lisa I’Anson show – interview with the authors

BBC Radio SHROPSHIRE: competition

BBC Radio CUMBRIA: interview and competition

BBC Radio LANCASHIRE: interview and competition BBC

Radio GMR: Interviews

Interviews with Jonathan Maitland about Eva Cassidy:

BBC Radio LEEDS

BBC Radio CLEVELAND

BBC Radio YORK

BBC Radio KENT

The author and collator of this book, Rob Burley, is a producer on TONIGHT WITH TREVOR MCDONALD and former producer of the JONATHAN DIMBLEBY PROGRAMME. Jonathan Maitland is an investigative journalist who has worked on the TODAY PROGRAMME and WATCHDOG as well as TONIGHT WITH TREVOR MCDONALD.