Anita O'Day rocks the '58 Newport Jazz Festival

So I was watching this great documentary the other night called "Jazz on a Summer's Day". It was all about the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival on a bright sunny day in Rhode Island. Acclaimed as one of the best jazz films ever made, it featured classic performances from many of the late 50's jazz-cats, such as Gerry Mulligan, Dinah Washington, Louis Armstrong, Chico Hamilton, Sonny Stitt, George Shearing, Big Maybelle, Mahalia Jackson & Thelonius Monk. But one performer stood out to me over than all the rest. This was the 2-song performance by the late singer Anita O'Day (Born: October 18, 1919 – Died: November 23, 2006). She sang two songs in the film, "Sweet Georgia Brown" and "Tea For Two".
Watch here and enjoy the talent: (Be patient, she kicks it in around 1:50 on the first video)





Like many jazz-cats during the 40's & 50's, miss O'Day had her share of drug problems. Beginning in 1947, when she and her husband were arrested for possession of marijuana and sentenced to 90 days in jail. In 1952 she was again arrested for possession of marijuana, but found not guilty. Later that year she was arrested for possession of heroin. The case dragged on for most of 1953, and she was finally sentenced to six months in jail. It's interesting to note she admitted later that she was probably high on heroin during the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival concert. (Can you tell?) She also said that it was the best day of her life in that hers was the star performance of the festival and she made the cover of national magazines for it. She nearly died of a heroin overdose in 1968, but shortly after finally kicked her drug habit for good. She performed almost up to her death in 2006.