& Audra MCDonald

Billy Holiday One best jazz vocalist of all times. An American jazz musician. Singer-Songwriter

Humble Beginnings Her mother was often seen in court due to the fact Eleanora had a habit of truancy. Sent to a school for troubled girls at the age of 9, she later dropped out of school in the 5th grade and worked in a brothel. At the age of 11 she was raped by a neighbor. She moved to Harlem with her mother and as a teen she was arrested for prostitution. Once released from jail she began singing for tips in Harlem nightclubs. An unmarried teenaged couple, Sadie Flagan and Clarence Holiday gave birth to Eleanora Fagan (Billie Holiday) on April 7, 1915 in Philadelphia. Shortly after Eleanora was born Clarence abandonded his new born girl to play his banjo and guitar in a jazz band. Poverty stricken, her mother moved her to Baltimore in the 1920’s.

The Inside facts Once released from jail she began singing for tips in Harlem nightclubs.  She sang to the records of Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith, both of whom she loved. In the 1930’s Eleanora changed her name to “Billie Holiday ”.  She named herself Billie after the famous film star Billie Dove and Holiday after her father Clarence. At the age of 18 while working in a Harlem nightclub she was discovered by record producer John Hammond.  In 1933, Billie made her recording debut with Benny Goodman , producing two songs: “Your Mother’s Son-In-Law” and “Riffin’ the Scotch.” 

The inside facts Cont… “Prez”and “Lady Day” Holiday went on to record and perform with a number of jazz greats in the 1930s.  Some of her popular songs were “What a Little Moonlight Can Do, Summer Time, and Miss Brown to You.” She went on to perform jazz songs with popular musicians. Some of her favorites were pianist Teddy Wilson, saxophonist Lester Young, Count Basie’s orchestra, Artie Shaw and his orchestra. She gave her good friend and musician Lester Young the nickname “Prez” after Franklin D. Rooselvelt. In return Lester gave Billie her famous and most well known nickname “Lady Day”.  In return Lester gave Billie her famous and most well known nickname “Lady Day”.   “Prez”and “Lady Day”

The Inside facts Cont… At Café Society, New York’s first integrated nightclub, Holiday debuted “Strange Fruit”. It was orignially a poem written by Abel Meerop. This song protested American racism, particularly the lynching of African Americans. For this song to debut in New York’s first integrated nightclub was a very big deal.  In 1944, Holiday received Esquire Magazine's Gold Award for Best Leading Female Vocalist. Billie sang with soul, passion, and emotion. Her way of expressing music into meanful stories resignated with her peers and fans.  To her delight, she appeared with her idol Louis Armstrong in the film ”New Orleans” in 1947. She played a singing maid while Louis played a bandleader..

The Struggles of “Lady Day” In 1947 Holiday was arrested for narcotics possession. She was sentenced to a year of prison time and went to a federal rehabilitation facility in West Virginia. Once released from prison she was not able to get a license to play in cabarets and clubs because of her prison record. As much as she tried to overcome this addiction and major struggle, it was not something she could do. This talented jazz icon could not shake her addiction to drugs and on July 17, 1959 she died from alcohol-and drug-related complications at the age of 44. One of her biggest struggles that Billie Holiday overcame was her rough start to life. Her father abandoned her, dreadfully poor, worked in a brothel, and arrested for prostitution. She did not let these issues bring her down. She confidently sought out to do what she loved and that was singing. After the death of her mother in 1945, Holiday started to drink heavily and use drugs.

Billie’s Influence The Harlem Renaissance was about giving a voice back to the African Americans and they intuitively did this through music, art, literature and more. Jazz music became increasing popluar during this time. Billie Holiday and her music paved the way for many African American woman to make their dreams come true. She contributed her zeal and love for jazz music. When Billie worked with Artie Shaw and his orchestra she made history by becoming one of the first female African American vocalists to work with a white orchestra. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ZyuULy9zs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6RwSsHSIfs

Audra McDonald Born July 3, 1970 in West Berlin, but raised in Fresno, Ca. Broadway Star American singer and actress Recently Audra joined the cast of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast playing a household objects as the gregarious singing Garderobe.

The Inside Facts She came from a talented musical family.  Both her parents were musicians and 5 of her aunts formed a touring gospel group. They toured the United States in the 1970’s. McDonald started performing in elementary school in local plays along side her sister, Alison.  She attended a perfoming arts high school and later attended Julliard in NYC. While at Julliard she joined the Broadway cast of “The Secret Garden”.  She was part of the chorus in this production and toured with them for a year. Next she auditioned for Carrie Pipperridge in “Carousel”. At her final audition, Audra fainted on stage while singing.  She still got the part and went on to win her first Tony Award in 1994. She is the first actress to have won three Tonys before the age of 30.  Some of the productions she has starred in are Master Class (1995), Ragtime (2000), and Marie Christine (1999).

The Inside Facts Cont... In 1996, McDonald made her first film debut in the drama “ Seven Servants”. This paved the way for her into the television/movie industry. In 2014 Audra McDonald was cast to play Billie Holiday in “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill”.  She won her sixth Tony Award for her performance, more than any other performer in history. Audra dedicated her Tony Award to Billie Holiday.  Billie Holiday is one of her icons. McDonald has won two Grammys for Best Classical Recording and Best Opera Recording.  She was also nominated for three Emmys as well. In 2016, President Barack Obama presented McDonald with a National Medal of Arts.  He honored her because she lit up Braodway as one of its brightest stars.

Audra’s Struggles Audra suffered her first bout of severe depression while at Julliard. It was so bad she even attempted suicide, and after sought medical treatment. Today she is a great advocate for mental health and talks openly as she continues to cope with depression.

Audra’s Connection to Lady Day In 2014 Audra McDonald jumped a the chance to play her icon Billie Holiday in “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill”. Audra listened to Holidays music when she was younger because it reminded her of her grandmothers voice. To this day she still listens to it. In her 2014 Tony acceptance speech for “Lady Day”, McDonald said, “ I want to thank all the strong and brave and courageous women whose shoulders I am standing on. And most of all Billie Holiday. You deserve so much more than you were given when you were on this Earth.” (Chilton,M 2014) Both these women were famous, and they both brought their music to the ears of anyone willing to listen. Both women are/were passionate about singing and living out their daily struggles through the voice given to them. Unfortunately, Holiday lost her battle with addiction way too soon.

What was Billie Holiday’s real name? Who discovered Billie Holiday? At what age did Billie die? How many Tony’s did Audra McDonald win? What mental disorder does McDonald have?

Work Cited “Billie Holiday: The Tragic Life of Lady Day” Legacy. 2015 http://www.legacy.com/news/celebrity-deaths/article/billie-holiday-the-tragic- life-of-lady-day “Billie Holiday: The Long Night of Lady Day” PBS.2006 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/billie- holiday-about-the-singer/68 “Billie Holiday.” Biography, July, 8, 2014 http://www.biography.com/people/billie-holiday-9341902 Chilton, Martin. “Audra McDonald dedicates Tony award to Billie Holiday.” The Telegraph. June 9, 2014. “Audra McDonald” Biography, (N.D.) http://www.biography.com/people/audra-mcdonald “The Official Website of Singer and actress Audra McDonald.” (N.D.) www.audramcdonald.net

Eleanora Fagan John Hammond 44 6 Depression