So my Son was born premature by 9 weeks ... a little one he was, 1998, and when finally home after several weeks in a med plastic box he came home with us ..... soon he needed a baby sitter ... she brought a CD that was called SONGBIRD .... this KID LOVED EVERY TRACK and would fall off to sleep after a few beautiful songs SUNG BY THIS PRETTY WOMAN with a voice so incredible .... a new favorite in our home ! Still love it, still wish she had not gone from us so soon. GBjj
On behalf of the world, thanks Chris , Keith, Jimmy, Lenny and everyone else involved in playing with Eva and recording her extraordinary and moving talents for posterity!❤️❤️❤️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
@@charlainefarr7632 I love music, particularly female singers ... mostly jazz, My list of great singers include Eva and Karen Carpenter and Beverly Kenney (who also died young), Jo Stafford, Barbra Streisand, Sarah Vaughn, June Christy, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell, Whitney Houston, Nina Simone, Annie Lennox, Diana Washington, Dakota Staton, Nancy Wilson, Aretha Franklin, Adele, Keely Smith and on and on .... there are so many great singers.Ella, Billie, Maxine Sullivan, Blossom Deary ,,,,
@@keithgrimes9622 Keith, thank you for teaching Eva to play the guitar so well. It only enhanced her incredible voice to another level! Thanks also for your insight into the making of Live At Blues Alley!
Who are the 201 dropkicks that have given Eva a thumbs down??? are you nuts? are you deaf???? This woman was perfect. God called her back to lead his choir...
It is very easy to be distracted from her guitar playing by the incredible voice. I mean, has anyone ever done "Chain, Chain, Chain" as well as Eva EXCEPT Aretha Franklin? What a voice.
You are absolutely spot on! I'm amazed at how her vocal and her guitar were independent of one another. Her playing was right in the pocket, and she was a superb fingerpicker, but then she could make those vocals float on top of that guitar bed, but her phrasing was not rigid at all. Incredible. Just incredible!!!
My husband & I are musicians, & we were driving thru the night to a gig, listening to the Vegas jazz station on the radio, and heard just the last part of Over the Rainbow, and it blew us completely away, and then the DJ came on and said her name, and that she was from DC, where I was from, and then that she had died at age 33, and I was numb. I felt like I had never heard that song before that night, and had discovered something wonderful that was taken away just as quickly. I immediately started looking her up, asking DC friends about her, and collecting her CDs. Still a huge fan, and this was a wonderful documentary.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I feel like I was in the car with you...I'm betting you are also a writer, or at least a terrific journaler. I first heard Eva at the 2002 Olympics in SLC, when Michelle Kwan skated to Fields of Gold. Life-affirming.
yeah...Eva's take on Over the Rainbow is something I keep coming back to...just today I shared it with an elderly lady whom I knew loved that tune...IMHO it is by far the best version of the tune ever done
Truly a voice that is easily one of the best of our generation. So sad that her life was tragically cut short. I just learned of this documentary and am happy that I discovered it. Eva Cassidy was a gift and her talent was incredible.
First time I heard Eva, I'd just suffered a miscarriage of my first child. I was feeling sad and desperate. I closed my office and went for a walk downtown. I stopped at a little boutique and her version of Fields of Gold was playing. Her voice brought me such comfort and peace. I asked the lady running the shop who she was. She could tell I was having a hard time. She took the CD out of her player and handed it to me in its case. She told me to return it whenever I wanted. I took it back to the office and listened to it that afternoon. Ordered my own....along with a couple of Eva's other CDs. That was 18 years ago and she's still hands down my favorite singer. What an incredible gift she is to all of us. I love all these comments and seeing how she's impacted so many lives. Blessings to to you all and RIP Eva.♡
I am a singer myself, and I have had music in my life since I was born. Eva was the most beautiful, fantastic, talented, soulful singer ever, and she will live on in our hearts and our memories. Thank you.
@@blackswan8407 She was in her thirties, it’s been about 24 years ago. It’s eerie, she died November 1st, and my son died the following March the 9th. Because of her I was able to meet my mother icon, as as well as my own, Chuck Brown, cause of the album the did together. It was when our Bowie Girl, was pretty much famous. Her parents Huge and Barbara came into our lives. Her brother Danny, was already a friend, who is an amazing violin player, that now lives in Iceland. Wonderful amazing family!💕💕💕💕💋💋💋
@@g_g6729 it’s just not my loss. It’s the worlds. The music industry found it hard to place her, due to the fact, she could fit in any genre of music. She was sweet and humbled about her gift, never braggadocios. So grateful, to hear kind words in reference to he ability to have a grand sound to come from her small framed body. Oh what a treasure to have known her and her family!💕💕💕
What a truly special blessing to have known Eva personally..... you were obviously a much-loved person in her life too being friend to her 💕.... hard to take in she will be gone 25 years this year in November 2021.... listening to her & reading her biography is immensely touching & just really becomes part of you if you know what I mean 💕. Sending you hugs from my heart Eva's friend (to her heart too) from here in Northern Ireland xo
So I named my daughter Eva after her because I grew up loving her music. But I only found out this week the date of the Blues Alley recording was the 3rd of January, which is my daughter's birthday (albeit 22 years later!) 😳❤️ Such a coincidence!
I named my daughter Eva Maria, born 12th January, so not too far off the date of the recording, but it wasn't until after my daughter Eva was born and i brought her to the doctor for a check up, and the doctor said...what a beautiful name, Eva Maria, must be after the singer Eva Maria Cassidy, and I said oh, I don't know her, i must look her up. So i did, as soon as I got home, and then I was hooked forever, listening to her songs and her beautiful voice over and over...which has brought me immeasurable joy over the years ♥️🙏💕 My daughter Eva is turning 16 next week, and in that time no other artist has come anywhere close to the impact Eva Cassidy had on me ..her voice and interpretation of songs, and the way she was so true to herself...a gift to the world, and the way music should be, sadly taken too soon 😢
I can’t believe never heard of Eva Cassidy but I am so grateful I took a look at this video. My whole body responds to her beautiful voice. She was a” gift” to all who heard her. The band here accompanies her perfectly. THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS or would never have experienced her awesome voice.
The most unbelievable talent ever. The most soulful voice unfortunately not recognized till after she passed on. Thank you Eva. Rest in the Lord's Embrace.
Oh...it was recognised....but Eva just wanted to sing...she had no ambition to be a superstar...she just loved to sing. Unfortunately the sound of her amazing voice didn't synchronise with the clink of the cash tills..
My brother just this morning introduced me to this amazing soul! And I’ve been listening to her most of the day and am just blown away. She not only has an amazingly beautiful voice that produces incredible vocalizations with such passion and range, but she has a gift for owning the song, and making it uniquely hers. Thank you, thank you, thank you to her band for sharing this experience and for participating in it with her.
My mom was sick with cancer in 2015, we found Eva Cassidy on the Internet together. Bonding over her in my mom’s last days. It was such a gift to be able to share this with my mother. My mom really loved Eva’s rendition of over the rainbow, I played it at her funeral.
I was lucky enough to be at this concert. I consider it one of my peak life experiences. I know that on more than one occasion over the course of that evening, she brought me to tears--tears of sorrow, tears of joy, and tears of pure, fascinated, mind-boggled admiration at her stratospheric talent. Eva wasn't just a talented performer--she was a force of nature, an angel in human form, a divine presence of inspiration, love, and wholesomeness. The depth and breadth of her emotion, talent, and devotion to her craft were an inspiration to everyone who was blessed by her performances. The world was a far better place when Eva sang in your presence, and is a much, much sadder, darker place in her absence. But luckily, we have her wonderful recordings, and our memories of the all-too-few times when she graced us with her shining, shimmering, Heavenly gifts...
Wow. So envious. I heard an overhead recording in a bookstore. Stopped me in my tracks. Had to immediately find out who it was. Somewhere Over the Rainbow, still moves me. I am careful as to when i play it.
Well at 61 years old I found out about Eva yesterday . I will be purchasing this record from that night in January 1996. As a musician myself I find her talent amazing. I thank all the band members for taking the time to be involved in this documentary . They gave quite a insight on Eva and her personality and were excellent as her backing Band. Wow I am still in AWE at her talent. One of the finest singers I have ever heard.
Her collection of songs that range from ballad, traditional even jazz, blues and rock ..... are on the disc called SONGBIRD ..... if you spin this while cleaning your house .... you'll be done sooner, sitting with headphones thereafter !
Many years ago I accidentally discovered Eva Cassidy on the internet. I spent the next hour listening to her music and reading what i could find on her. And then, I read that she had died. I went from not knowing she existed, to falling in love with her, to being heartbroken at her passing all in the course of an hour. But, I'll never forget her.
I had the exact same experience several years ago - about midnight I was looking for a version of Stormy Monday Blues. Came across hers, listened to a few more of her songs, kept finding more nad suddenly at 4:00 AM I started reading about her -- she had died. Like you I had fallen in love and been crushed in one night.
Back in '98, I was going through a divorce and living in a loft on top of a barn up in Cherokee County, GA. It was up on top of hill, and at night I could catch the NPR station out of Chattanooga. That was when I learned about Eva Cassidy. One of the best voices I've heard. Unquestionably one of the most authentic voices to ever be recorded. This brings tears to my eyes. We need artists like this.
Eva’s version of Fields Of Gold is one the most beautiful and moving renditions of any song I have ever heard. It is made even more poignant by the knowledge that this wonderfully talented human being died so young. Let’s hope 2021 finally brings some peace to all those who have lost a loved one in recent times.
Also, Who Knows Where The Time Goes and I Know You By Heart. Those two songs make me cry every time I hear them as they remind me of the sadness I feel after the sudden loss of my beloved brother seven months ago. 😢
A signer of this caliber comes to us once in a thousand years. A singer who can sing any genre, an angel voice of this time. Im so grateful we can still hear Eva. Thank you so much for this documentary. The story is just as important has Eva's music. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Eva's music lives on!
My now husband bought a copy of Eva's Songbird album and gave it to me on our first date. That album was one of the best albums I had ever heard. Eva took songs and pulled the soul out so it was if you heard that song for the first time with new ears
Lenny Williams at having to come in on piano during Eva’s beautiful rendition of Autumn Leaves…. “ it felt like painting a moustache on the Mona Lisa ” he was so captivated by Eva’s perfection in that moment that even accompanying her felt like a sin. That is, by far, the highest compliment I’ve ever heard a professional musician bestow upon another. So moving 😔❤
Every time I think of this amazing woman singing What A Wonderful World during her last performance a few weeks before her passing, I am haunted; she could have been bitter and hated the world, but instead she was thankful. That told me as much about her character as her music did. I pray that her legacy continues to grow, because there are a lot of people who are still missing out. Her voice was and still is a precious gift from God.
I did an interview for a Russian media outlet recently about music (I was born and raised in DC and a sometime musician) and I mentioned about Eva and got thank you comments from those who were blown away by her. I'm always ready to spread the word about this angel. There is a young humble angel voiced singer from Kazakhstan who sings beautifully and powerfully in many styles, Dimash.
I’ve been into music all of my life and have eclectic tastes and played professionally for about 4 years. I’ve seen hundreds of bands and singers but this woman is the greatest I’ve ever heard. Never contrived she just sang from the heart . Eva was gifted beyond belief. To take on these iconic songs and make the original artists sound like they were actually covering Eva’s versions is just mind blowing . This is the only singer who has ever moved me to tears after listening to her version of Autumn Leaves many years ago.
I didn't know Eva's music until a number of years ago driving at night to the mountains with the rest of the group asleep. I pushed in a friend's cassette and there was this voice that pierced me. I was thankful that it was dark because I would have been embarrassed if the others had seen the tears running down my face, like they are now.
Similar... I was driving 70 mph by myself, heard the tail end of Fields of Gold, frantically trying to find something to write with so I wouldn’t forget who it was and hoping the announcer would tell who it was, trying to not run myself off the road...
She is not only has an amazing voice, she is a wonderful artist. I had the honor of knowing her in junior high and I ha e a drawing she did of a rose. I remember telling her to sign it because she was going to be famous. RIP my friend.
She was an amazing vocalist! I have always loved the way she made each song her own. There’s no one like her. I still listen to her songs. I will always listen.
Thanks for doing this.Eva's legacy will continue to grow (as it should) with works like this. Never seen a singer bring men to tears like she can. Best singer I've seen live was Sarah Brightman; Eva could've held her own with anybody, anywhere. The band members were part of a unique history. Love their insights into who she was. They nailed it with the nuance comments. Played too many gigs where it's all about playing something with a beat to get people to drink, party. That wasn't Eva-her music was for one to LISTEN to, not as background noise. Admire her so much for her integrity, being who she was.
Eva's music was playing in the background as I shopped Good Wood in Adams Morgan in DC one chilly day 20 years ago. Somewhere Over the Rainbow as playing and it just stopped me in my tracks, goosebumps running up and down my body. When the manager told me about her life story, I was saddened to hear of her passing at such a young age and at the point in her career where she was taking off. Thank you to the producers and band members for making this documentary to honor her life and musical journey with us.
Such a beautiful pure voice- no need for vocal gymnastic tricks so many current singers now are expected to do. She sang from her heart. I have all her recordings and she'll always be one of my favorite musical artists.
WOW! How did I never hear about this lady? What a fabulous voice!! That rendition of Autumn Leaves is by far the best ever, Her voice is the voice of someone whose heart truly, truly aches. And you know what? The band is terrific! Thanks very much.
We have Terry Wogan to thank for bringing Eva to the attention of people like me. He would constantly play, Somewhere over the Rainbow by Eva, on his show and my ears pricked up. Thoroughly enjoyed watching this. We will never know what path Eva would have walked had her life not been cut so short. A beautiful voice that should never be forgotten.
Yes exactly! Terry Wogan..That's when radio 2 was unmissable! Terry used to play Eva's 'Over the Rainbow' regularly and Gerry Rafferty's 'Don't speak of my heart' also Clifford T Ward's 'Home thoughts from abroad', Also W.O.L.D. from Harry Chapin, all absolute classics from five brilliant artists no longer with us sadly!
@@peterhammond3779 He was but Terry's audience was so much bigger and so utterly loyal. So Eva was this huge secret shared by this vast morning audience she was always going to explode from there. I wish she'd been alive to see it, even if just for a year or so - I just wish she'd known how huge she was in Britain.
Many years ago my father played her record for me. I was instantly hooked. I was somewhat aggravated that Katherine McPhee covered her version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow on American Idol and did not give her credit. Eva's version of it is simply amazing. About 10 or so years after my Dad introduced me to her he passed and I played her version of Fields of Gold at his funeral along with my brother. Her version of that still makes me tear up. Thank you Eva for leaving such a beautiful mark on my relationship with my father. I truly wish you were still with us today.
Thank you so much for producing this. I was fortunate enough to work on some Eva’s recordings. Chris thank you for the opportunity. This means allot to me. Very well done. Eva is magical.
Idiots! How dare you give negativity to such a talent. You obviously don't know Music AT ALL. Take your thumbs down for Eva and put it in your mouth and .......it!
My boyfriend introduced me to Eva Cassidy in the 80s, I think he had seen her once in person, and I was immediately hooked. To this day she’s my all-time favorite, and her song choices are perfect for me to sing along. Her poignant short life story is a sadness I’ve carry with me for 40 years. To say Eva Cassidy moved me doesn’t do justice to the impact her talent and beauty have had in my life. So grateful. ❤
I heard her when someone had the radio on, but it was bad audio. Many years later I heard her on world class speakers. I was befallen by goose bumps and nice vibes..., ever more.
She sings so personal, everybody understands, keeps their mouth shut and listens. Let’s the sound of her voice tremble through your body, and therefore you’re soul. She’s a longtime favorite of our musicologist, audioequipment building Dutch society, and the last 10 years everybody’s picking up on her. That’s great, If we want to display one of our audiosets, and some people were talking, one number of Eva and everybody’s silent... Lost my mother in law a few years ago, and fields of gold was the prime number of her funeral. It’s a healing voice. Last week, I buried my father, and songbird was the prime number we played. And again. Healing and soothing. That’s what you call soul. Eva AND her band, you’ve did the world a favor. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
To my old friend Chris Biondo - this documentary is wonderful. I own copies of most (if not all) of Eva's recorded music. Which you recorded and produced. As you said here you wanted to "try to make sure that she's remembered in the best light." In my completely biased and unprofessional opinion you have succeeded. Well done Chris, and all of you who worked with her, and especially well done Eva. You are remembered in the best possible light.
I heard Eva live just one time. As a professional musician myself, I was awestruck then, and maybe a little infatuated (well, maybe a LOT infatuated). She was so self-effacing, and genuine down to her toes. I knew she was destined for great things. It's a cosmic irony that her success came too late for her to understand what a gift she had. Every November 2nd I listen to "Over the Rainbow" and "Autumn Leaves" to honor her memory. Eva, you are missed, now and forever.
Thank you for sharing this outstanding night to remember. Seeing your faces watch her and remembering your time together is priceless. I adore her and so grateful we have her recordings to keep her alive in our hearts.
After sitting through this I am just overwhelmed with sadness that we didn't get the opportunity to hear more - and that she didn't get the opportunity to appreciate just how special she was. She had the gift of hearing a song and then interpreting it in a way that pulls out all of the elements to their true significance. The fact that there are 112 dislikes literally astonishes me - but proves the phrase "even duct tape can't fix stupid !! "
I was once, in my job, put on traffic control on a quiet road with little traffic. Late afternoon I put my ear plugs in. I spent the rest of the shift transfixed on hearing her voice. I still am transfixed when I play her. What a gorgeous, wonderful person. The sadness of her early death while listening will always be with me.
Thanks for what you wrote. Some unsolicited advice; ignore the dislikes. Such negatives are a simply a part of the sender’s soul, just as your kind words about her are part of yours.
They hated being caused to feel something bigger, kind of like: Move over rover, let Eva take over...though I'm sure she would never have thought that, but she wielded power.
Interpretations come from the soul. When they are this good they will find their way to the general populace and will be ultimately appreciated for how beautiful they are.
What a unique singer! Seems she walked on this earth just to contribute her precious gift in a most honest way from the depth of the heart! What a difference it makes enjoying a truely authentic artist like her! Moves me still to tears, each time I listen to her heatwarming interpretations of eg. "fields of gold" "what a wonderful world" "Imagine" Her voice still shines on us and brightens up this Universe! Blessed those who can not only listen but truely hear beyond the tunes! Thank You !
My friend and band mate Noksang introduced me to Eva Cassidy back in the year 2008. And the first track i listened to was Fields of Gold. And i truly fell in love with her voice. Sadly my friend passed away in the year 2020 due to covid. Thank you brother Noksang for introducing me to Eva Cassidy. Love from Dimapur, Nagaland (India)
Perhaps we all get too emotional over Eva because of her early demise. However this is simply not true. I remember vividly getting up for work one morning when I heard Somewhere Over The Rainbow on the radio ( thank you Terry Wogan ) I was transfixed by the singer and just stood there motionless till the very end. Never been moved in such a way. Had to find out who she was, devastated to find she was no longer with us. Watching this video is soul tearing. You can feel the total respect these guys had for Eva and the pain is palpable. It is as honest as can be, as was Eva. Am I the only one to get lost in those amazing eyes.
What really comes through in this documentary (I've watched half of it so far as I write this) is how deliberate Eva was in living her life. She knew what she wanted, she chose it, and she did it. The part about her having a job outdoors because that's what she enjoyed summed it up perfectly: no compromises. We can all learn something from that, perhaps. Instead of chasing what people say you should want, stop and work out what you really want. And remember a wonderful voice that burned brightly for too brief a time but lights up the soul whenever it's heard, even now.
Over the rainbow by Eva Cassidy was played at my Nans funeral, it was a tear jerker it was my dads choice, he's now not with us. Untill social media misinformation disappears we're screwed. Yes the vaccine will come out we will take it, but an alarming amount of people won't.
@@lionel8994 I do not follow politics nor do I care, that's just how I honestly feel(always have) I don't have the time or patience to care about things that we literally have zero control over(IMO)we are only on this earth for a very short hundred years it's a blink it will be over before we know it. You have a good life, and peace & love to all that give it back.
Possibly the most beautiful and emotional voice of our time - the quotes from her friends "effortless, pitch perfect, too good to be ignored, I've got this" say so much about Eva, she was all that and then so much more. She is missed with great sadness. What a wonderful and excellent documentary - Thank you and best wishes from Iceland.
A friend introduced me to her "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." That was 20 years ago. I was literally mesmerized. She has to be the leader of the choir in heaven. What a gift!
I enjoyed every second of this documentary!! Eva will always live on because she was so unique and special! The best vocalist ever! And she was fortunate to have connected with such wonderful musicians.
I first heard her sing Autumn Leaves about 2 years ago. When my little brother passed away. He was also a musician. Everytime I hear her sing Autumn Leaves I just weep uncontrollably. I weep for my brother and for her. They both left us to soon. 💔
I remember driving to work and listening to the radio when they played somewhere over the rainbow, I’d never heard anyone sing that song more beautiful. I went home searching on RU-vid for that song until I found it, that’s when I discovered the beautiful talented Eva Cassidy. RIP ❤️❤️
Chris Biondo, you have kept Eva’s memory as beautifully vibrant as it always was. I loved watching this documentary. Truly stunning. My grandmother, Concetta DeDomenico Briggs was Mauro’s cousin and she introduced me to Eva’s music oh so long ago. The light continues to pass from one heart to another. Thank you for recording and producing the gift of Eva’s music. ❤️
When my soul needed soothing, I would listen to Eva Cassidy. Still do. My daughter had her CD so I "borrowed" it and listen to it on long drives. I don't know where her talent came from but I could sense she was born with it. She could sing straight from her soul.
When I hear Eva sing Autumn Leaves it bares my soul. I always feel melancholic as Autumn moves to winter. The piano interlude is like musical tears. I keep her music for those times in my life when I need emotional release. So sad. I envy the angels in Heaven.
I cried all the way through this...for love lost, for hope gained. I had "Fields of Gold" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" played at my dad's funeral; I had just discovered "Songbird" a few weeks before he passed. Eva is an angel flying among us, continuing to assure us that love transcends all space and time. Love lasts forever. Love never dies.
To me, Eva is and will always be the greatest vocalist I have ever heard. Crystal clear vocals. Thanks so much for posting this and talking about your show.
Wow I live under a rock! This girl was so fantastic and the band! The way these great musicians nurtured her and payed tribute to her really touched me! I’m going to look for more. So sad she is gone, but I pray she is in a better place singing for the King! Thank you so much for your art! Wow
@@kayguidry6047 I don’t mean to dispute because I could be wrong, but I believe that I read Ms. Cassidy suffered from bone or bone marrow (?) cancer. Not that the cause even matters over the fact that we all selfishly wish that she was still here with us. Lucky Angels…
I was in yoga class 15+ years ago and the music played for the whole 60 minute class was this angelic female voice. After the class I had to know who she was. That was my introduction to Eva Cassidy and was sad discovering she had passed away so young. Thankfully we have recordings of her. R.I.P. angel. I hope you're singing in another realm right now.
Some Where Over The Rainbow, is the theme song to my life - I’m 66, and her version makes me cry - every time! For 25 years! Peace (She looks exactly like my eldest granddaughter!)
When Eva sang it was like an angel stroking her voice, the sound was absolutely fabulous, such a warmth in that voice that just oozed love. R.I.P. EVA 🙏🙏🙏🙏
The first time that I ever heard Eva Cassidy was at a listening station in Barnes & Noble. When I came across her album and began to give it a listen, I thought, oh my word I have found my favorite singer. But a quick read of her bio told me she had already passed and I couldn't believe it. That was in 2001 and I have been a die-hard fan ever since.
She made every song her own while still paying homage to and never losing the essence of the music. Eva Cassidy was the greatest example of a song stylist.
It's a cold gray January Sunday afternoon here in Upstate New York, but having just finished watching this wonderful documentary, my heart is warmed, my soul is full of sunshine and rainbows, and my eyes are moistened with tears of joy. I am a fan of a tremendous variety of music, with close to fifteen hundred CD's and LP's in my collection ..... and for the past many years, "Live at Blues Alley" is the record that I play the most often. Thank you Eva and the band ..... Simply sublime !
