Biography

b. Elizabeth Holzman, 23 May 1904, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, d. 18 June 1971, Stamford, Connecticut, USA. Holman was regarded by some as the first great white torch singer, and by others as ‘a dark purple menace’, because of her tempestuous private life. She played minor roles in Broadway musicals and became a featured star in 'Merry-Go-Round' (1927), and 'Rainbow' (1928), in which she gave a languorous performance of ‘I Want A Man’. After making the US Top 10 in 1929 with ‘Am I Blue?’, she was acclaimed a major star following her performance in 'The Little Show', in which she sang ‘Can’t We Be Friends’ and ‘Moanin’ Low’. The following year, Holman received rave reviews for her sultry renditions of ‘Body And Soul’ and ‘Something To Remember Me By’ in Three’s A Crowd (1930). Her career changed direction following the shooting of her husband Zachary Smith Reynolds in 1932, during which she was accused of his murder but the case was declared nolle prosequi, and never came to court. Holman returned to Broadway in 'Revenge With Music' (1934), in which she introduced Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz’s insinuating ‘You And The Night And The Music’. In 1938 she appeared in Cole Porter’s 'You Never Know'. During the early 40s she caused a furore by appearing as a double-act with black folk singer Josh White, recording one album with White. In the 1950s and 1960s she recorded albums with Gerald White and continued her civil rights and humanitarian work. Follow on Twitter @LibbyHolmans