BILLIE HOLIDAY By: Sean Wilson

BIOGRAPHY  Her birth name is Eleanora Fagan (also known as Lady Day)  She was born on April 7 th 1915 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Died on July 17 th 1959 (age 44) in New York City, New York.  She was a singer, and songwriter, she sang vocal jazz, jazz blues, torch songs, and swing.  She sang from

MODERNISM  Critic John Bush wrote that Holiday “changed the art of American pop vocals forever.”  In the 1930’s and early 40’s her recordings were important parts of the jazz local library.  She was the first black women to work with a white orchestra.  Life magazine wrote “she has the most distinct style of any popular vocalist and is imitated by other vocalists.

SUMMERTIME  The Jazz era  A modern interpretation of an old song with jazz vocals 

GLOOMY SUNDAY  The Blues era  Her voice was the embodiment of the Blues 

AWARDS AND HONORS  Billie Holiday was in the Grammy Hall of Fame Awards.  She won Best Historical Album 4 different years.  Inducted in the Jazz Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Best leading female vocalist.  1987 awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

ASSOCIATED ACTS  Ella Fitzgerald- sang in a song with Billie Holiday called “angel eyes.”  Louis Armstrong- sang in “Dream a Little Dream.”  Lena Horne  These three women including Billie Holiday made a jazz album and it was released in 1994.

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