American jazz singer and songwriter

Billie Holiday was born with the name Eleanora Fagan in She spent most of her life in Baltimore, Maryland. Primarily raised by her mother and she had only a tenuous connections with her father, who was a jazz guitarist in Fletcher Henderson’s band. Billie lived in extreme poverty which forced her to drop out of fifth grade. Running errands for brothel was her day job. At the age of twelve Billie Holiday moved to Harlem with her mother and was eventually arrested for prostitution.

1939- Becomes one of the first artists to perform at Café Society. -Introduces the songs “Strange Fruit” and “God Bless America” -Records her major session at Commodore Records her second major session at Commodore -holiday sings with Decca Records 1946-Stars in the “New Orleans” -Headlines New York Town Hall –She tours Europe Holiday makes her final studio recordings with MGM -Holiday gives her final performance in New York City. -July 17 Holiday dies in New York City April 7, Born in Philadelphia, Penn Holiday appears in various Harlem clubs with singer Laurence Jackson Holiday cuts her first records at the age of 18 -Discovered by talent agent John Hammond. -Hammond organizes her first commercial recording session with Benny Goodman Records some of her most memorable sides including “Miss Brown To You”. -Stars alongside Duke Elington in the film “Symphony in Black” 1937-Receives the nickname “Lady Day” from sax player Lester Young. -She Teams with the Count Basie Orchestra She teams with Artie Shaw

-"I can't stand to sing the same song the same way two nights in succession, let alone two years or ten years. If you can, then it ain't music, it's close- order drill or exercise or yodeling or something, not music." -"Somebody once said we never know what is enough until we know what's more than enough." "Don't threaten me with love, baby. Let's just go walking in the rain" "Love is like a faucet, it turns off and on."

Considered one of the best jazz vocalists of all time, Holiday had a thriving career as a jazz singer for many years before she lost her battle with substance abuse. Her autobiography was made into the 1972 film Lady Sings the Blues. In 2000, Billie Holiday was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Holiday began singing in local clubs and renamed herself "Billie" after the film star Billie Dove. At the age of 18, Holiday was discovered by producer John Hammond while she was performing in a Harlem jazz club. Hammond was instrumental in getting Holiday recording work with an up-and-coming clarinetist and bandleader Benny Goodman. With Goodman, she sang vocals for several tracks, including her first commercial release "Your Mother's Son-In-Law" and the 1934 top ten hit "Riffin' the Scotch."John Hammond Benny Goodman