promoting the works of Paul and Jane Bowles in the written, musical and theatre forms and working with caring attitude towards helping people in need in Morocco This website online since May 1st 2000 visited by people who like Paul Bowles from more than 119 countries Copyright Notice This page is the work of The International Paul Bowles Society and has previously been published in our printed publications ©The International Paul Bowles Society, November 2000 Libby Holman 1904-1971 A Brief Biography Libby Holman: Actress and Singer, close friend of Paul and Jane Bowles. Libby Holman was born Elizabeth Holzman in Ohio on May 23rd 1904. As a student in 1923, Libby starred in campus shows, doing so well she moved to New York after graduation, earning a bachelor of fine arts degree from the University of Cincinnati. Known as a 'torch singer' as well as an actress, Libby became a stage and night club star in the late 1920's, during the era of Prohibition in the USA. She also invented the strapless evening dress. The female counterpart of the the 'crooner' was the 'torch singer.' These women sat on top of a piano and sang of broken hearts and love lost. Edith Piaf and Ruth Etting are regarded by many as being the original torch singers. Libby acquired her raw blues voice after an accident involving the removal of her tonsills. Her entry to fame came after appearing with Clifton Webb and Fred Allen in the Broadway revue, 'The Little Show,' in which she first sang the blues number, 'Moanin' Low,' which brought her a dozen curtain calls on the opening night, drew raves from the critics and became her signature song. Carly Simon likes to sing this song too. Libby's other hits were 'Something to Remember You By,' More Than You Know,' 'Body and Soul,' and 'Can't We be Friends?' Libby became one of America's best-known blues singers during the next two decades and appeared in several Broadway productions with stars like Clifton Webb, Fred Allen, Ilka Chase, Lupe Velez, Charles Ruggles, Brian Donlevy and Paul and Grace Hartman. She also performed several times in London, England, at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith. Libby never used a microphone during her performances. During the 1930's, she starred on Broadway in 'Revenge With Music' (1934) and had well publicized love affairs with both women (Louisa Carpenter du Pont Jenney, Josephine Baker) and men (actor Montgomery Clift.) One of the best known lesbian hangouts in New York at the time was the 'Clam House,' on 133rd Street. Libby had married the heir to a tobacco fortune, Zachary Smith Reynolds, who was later found dead of gunshot wounds, age 21. She was charged with his murder but acquitted and, after a legal battle, inherited his money. This event caused a scandal in the 1930's. Libby led a tempestuous private life and was often in the news. During the early '40s she caused an uproar by appearing as a double-act with black folk singer Josh White, the renowned blues singer, playing clubs and concerts in an era when a black male and white female stage relationship was frowned upon by many bookers and critics. Together, they had a several month residency at 'La Vie Parisienne,' a NY nightclub which billed French cabaret acts. As an interracial team, both in New York and later on a national tour, they caused a stir. He became the first black male entertainer to flaunt his sex appeal to a white audience. Libby met Paul and Jane Bowles in 1945 in New York. Libby was almost thirteen years older than Jane. It was during Libby's first visit to Morocco in the summer of 1950 that she heard the bad news that her son Christopher had been killed in a mountain climbing accident. Jane accompanied Libby back to New York and stayed with her for several months. In 1953 when Paul and Ahmed Yacoubi went to America, they stayed with Libby. Libby fell in love with Ahmed Yacoubi and Paul returned to Morocco on his own. Within a few months, Yacoubi returned to Morocco to be with Paul. Libby and Jane exchanged many letters for over more than twenty years. Libby's last show on Broadway was in the fall of 1954, when she was 50 years old. It was a one-woman show, 'Blues, Ballads and Sin Songs,' that she had been performing for four years across the country. Libby had a strong attitude towards racial justice. She held several benefit concerts and petitioned the White House in the cause of racial equality. Holman's foundation made it possible for a young Martin Luther King, Jr. to travel to India to study with Mahatma Gandhi. Libby Holman died on June 18, 1971, at the age of 67. She was found dead in the front seat of her Rolls Royce in the garage of her thirty three room Stamford, Connecticut mansion, 'Treetops.' Books on Libby Holman: 'Libby' by Milt Machlin Tower books, 1980 'Dreams That Money Can Buy: the Tragic Life of Libby Holman' by Jon Bradshaw Azalea, Main, Mirror Lake Play Murder by Sky Gilbert Blizzard Publishing, 1995 Music: 'Moanin Low: Early Recordings 1927-1934' Track Listing: 1. Moanin' Low 2. Can't We Be Friends 3. Who's That Knocking at My Door? 4. There Ain't No Sweet Man That's Worth the Salt of My Tears 5. He's a Good Man to have Around 6. The Way He Loves is Just Too Bad 7. I'm Doin' What I'm Doin' for Love 8. I May Be Wrong - But I Think You're Wonderful 9. My Man is On the Make 10. Here Am I 11. Find Me a Primitive Man 12. A Ship Without a Sail 13. What Is This Thing Called Love? 14. Cooking Breakfast for the One I love 15. Body and Soul 16. Something to Remember You By 17. I'm One of God's Children - Who Hasn't Got Wings 18. You and the Music and the Night 19. When You Love Only One 20. 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