Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday (1915-1959) was an American singer and songwriter who became a jazz legend. She is considered the singer who started modern jazz.
Billie Holiday, stage name of Eleanora Fagan, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, on April 7, 1915. She was the daughter of musician Clarence Holiday and Saddy Fagan, who were 15 and 13 years old, respectively, when Billie was born.
She was raised by an aunt who lived in Baltimore. At the age of 10, Billie was raped by a neighbor and was then taken to a shelter for abused girls.
At 14, she went to live with her mother in Harlem, a stronghold of the Black community in New York City. She began prostituting herself, but was arrested and spent four months in prison.
CAREER
At 15, seeing her mother threatened with eviction from their shared room, Billie Holiday went to a bar looking for work, landing her first job as a singer. She spent two years singing in bars in Harlem.
In 1932, she caught the attention of producer John Hammond, who brought her to record her first album at CBS studios.
Without any formal vocal training, Billie couldn't read sheet music and mainly sang slow ballads. Her influences were Bessie Smith and trumpeter Louis Armstrong, whom she listened to in the bars where she worked.
In November 1933, accompanied by Benny Goodman's band, she recorded "Your Mather's Son-in-Law" and "Rifin' The Scotch." Nicknamed "Lady Day" by saxophonist Laster Young, she began her professional career.
Gradually, he gained prestige in the world of Jazz. He sang with several bands and recorded a series of songs with saxophonist Lester Young.
She changed the beat and melody of the songs she performed. She gained fame performing with the orchestras of Duke Ellington, Teddy Wilson, Count Basie, and Artie Shaw, and also alongside Louis Armstrong, already using the stage name Billie Holiday.
In 1939, her rendition of "Strange Fruit," a protest song against racism in the United States, solidified her career. "Strange Fruit" and "God Bless the Child" became the most symbolic songs of her career.
Among other standout songs are: Trav' lin Light, Gloomy Sunday, Lover Man, Summertime, Crazy Calls Me, and Body and Soul.
PERSONAL LIFE
Billie Holiday spent her life being exploited by unfaithful husbands, managers, and dishonest lovers. Despite her success, she became addicted to alcohol and drugs. Heroin, in particular, was the devastating drug for her voice and precipitated her artistic downfall.
In Philadelphia, she was arrested for drug possession and lost her license to sing in the best venues, relegating her to cabarets.
Hurt, the singer commented: "When I die, I don't care if I go to heaven or hell. I just don't want to go to Philadelphia."
In 1956 she published her autobiography entitled "Lady Sings The Blues".
DEATH
In 1959, Billie Holiday was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, but she didn't stop drinking. In May, she was taken to the hospital by her friends.
While hospitalized, she was arrested for drug possession. She remained under police surveillance until her death.
Billie Holiday died of heart and liver problems in New York City, United States, on July 17, 1959.
BILLIE HOLIDAY - FUTPEDIAMUSIC SELECTION
Billie Holiday
Futpediamusic Selection
12 Songs To Download
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