Billie Holiday

Who is Billie Holiday?

Billie Holiday is recognized as one of the greatest African American jazz vocalists of all time. Before losing her battle with addiction, Holiday enjoyed a long and successful career as a jazz singer. Holiday was admitted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

Biography

Early Life

Death

holiday's love for alcohol was well known but she was able to keep it under control throughout her life. men she dated introduced her to new substances which she got attached to and stuck with leading to addiction. (opium and herion)

Eleanora Fagan aka Billie Holiday was born April 7, 1915 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In her early teens, she started her "apprenticeship" by singing along to CDs by iconoclasts Bessie Smith and Louis Armstrong.

Holiday cut back on drinking briefly at the doctor's advise. Despite her deteriorating condition, she resisted going to the hospital until she was forced to be treated for liver and heart illness in late May 1959. Billy Holiday passed dead on July 17, 1959, as a result of complications brought on by liver cirrhosis.

Birth/Death

Birth

Discovery

Holiday was discovered by producer John Hammond when she was 18 years old and had more life experience than most people. Together, they cut their first album as a studio ensemble with clarinetist Benny Goodman, who was on the cusp of success at the time.

Holiday's career took off from 1935 until 1941 as he collaborated with pianist/arranger Teddy Wilson to release success after hit.

Legacy

Billie Holiday is remembered today for her groundbreaking musical compositions, compositional prowess, imagination, and fearless perspectives on injustice and inequity.

Legacy

Racism was a problem for Holiday as she rose to fame. For black people, certain regulations established separate facilities, public areas, and bus seats, and some restaurants would only serve white people. Holiday consequently occasionally found herself performing in establishments that turned away black patrons.

Citations

- Marin, Kate. “How Did Billie Holiday Die? Everything You Need to Know.” TheNetline, 30 June 2021, https://thenetline.com/how-did-billie-holiday-die/#:~:text=Billy%20Holiday%20passed%20away%20on%2017th%20July%201959,government%20Billie%20Holiday%20didn%E2%80%99t%20have%20an%20easy%20upbringing.

Resources

-“Billie Holiday.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 12 Nov. 2021, https://www.biography.com/musician/billie-holiday.

Hannon, Sharon M. “Billie Holiday: Lady Day's Enduring Legacy.” PleaseKillMe, 7 Apr. 2021, https://pleasekillme.com/billie-holiday-legacy/.