Eva Cassidy was a musician from Washington in the nineties. She is well-received for her soulful renditions of popular songs. Despite her talent, fame eluded her during her lifetime. She toiled in obscurity, selling self-released albums from the trunk of her car.

Cassidy’s most popular interpretation is of Somewhere Over The Rainbow originally sung by Judy Garland in The Wizard Of Oz. She reinvents the song and gives it added depth. It’s longer than the original and was performed live at the Blues Alley jazz club in 1996. Her nuanced guitar work and pitch-perfect singing make it captivating to listen to. Described by her friends as a shy and self-critical person, it isn’t a wonder that she didn’t steal the limelight earlier. She was also picky about what she performed, singing only material that meant something to her.

To support herself, Cassidy worked a day job at a garden nursery for many years. This involved a lot of labor in scorching heat. She eventually quit her job to focus on her musical career. Unfortunately, just as she was becoming popular in the Washington music scene, she had been diagnosed with melanoma. The cancer had already metastasized and she did not have long to live.

She lived to see only one solo album released, Live At Blues Alley. This album was recorded at Blues Alley in 2 days. It was financed by savings from her day job. After her death, a label released four albums of her music- Songbird, Live at Blues Alley, Eva by Heart and Time After Time. Songbird sold millions of copies in the US and UK.

My favorite covers from her collection are Over The Rainbow, At Last, and Songbird. Though these songs have been done to death, Cassidy makes them sound original. Unlike most people, she wasn’t afraid of her vulnerable side. Her music was raw and honest even if it hurt. She did her muses proud, too. Mick Fleetwood from Fleetwood Mac said, “Her most noticeable strength was the ability to interpret a song in a way where it becomes her property. She always connected.” I think the genuine feeling with which she performs is what people can learn from her. Her music has the ability to pry emotions out of hardened individuals.