Music of the Week: October 6, 2023: Eva Cassidy – Autumn Leaves

All of Eva Cassidy’s (1963-1996) recognition as “one of the most unique, hypnotic, and powerful singers of all time” (producer William Ross) came posthumously. She was only 33 when she died of a malignant melanoma (or possibly, of malignant chemotherapy).

She published one album during her lifetime, but her posthumous releases and number one albums and hits ranked her as number 5 among the top best-selling musicians on Amazon in 2005! Katie Melua regards her as one of her biggest role models and inspirations for her own career.

The latest CD, I Can Only Be Me, released in March 2023 with a selection of Eva’s songs, is an orchestral album with the London Symphony Orchestra and recordings of Eva’s voice from January 1996 in Georgetown, DC.

Her voice is one of a kind.

“Autumn Leaves,” originally a French song composed in 1945, has become a jazz standard and has literally been covered a thousand times by various artists. Hear it today through Eva Cassidy’s magic.

Related:

Eva Cassidy website: Telling you about Eva since 1999

Autumn Leaves with orchestral accompaniment by the London Symphony Orchestra

Katie Melua & Eva Cassidy – Somewhere Over The Rainbow (YouTube)

‘One of the best singers ever’: remembering Eva Cassidy, 25 years after her death (The Guardian)

Eva Cassidy’s impeccable voice paired with London Symphony Orchestra for “I Can Only Be Me” album coming in February, 2023

Autumn Leaves (Wikipedia)

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