Billie Holiday - Songwriters, Family and Childhood
Billie Holiday's Personal Details
Billie Holiday was an American jazz musician, singer and song writer
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | April 7, 1915 |
| Died on | July 17, 1959 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | Musicians, Lyricists & Songwriters, Songwriters |
| Spouses | Jimmy Monroe, Joe Guy, Louis McKay |
| Known as | Eleanora Fagan |
| Cause of death |
|
| Birth Place | Philadelphia |
| Religion | Catholicism |
| Height | 165 |
| Gender | Female |
| Father | Clarence Holiday |
| Mother | Sarah Julia Fagan |
| Sun Sign | Aries |
| Born in | Philadelphia |
| Famous as | Musician |
| Died at Age | 44 |
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Billie Holiday's photo
Who is Billie Holiday?
Billie Holiday was an American jazz musician, singer and song writer. Originally named Eleanora Fagan, she adopted pseudonym Billie Holiday from actress Billie Dove who she admired and her father Clarence Holiday. Her ground breaking melody, soulful voice and capability of creating music from anything and everything made her a famous jazz diva of her time. Lester Young, her friend as well as music partner, nicknamed her ‘Lady Day’. The music marvel that she was, Billie Holiday became a sensation in jazz music during 1950s. This remarkable musician is still remembered for her vocal style, creative brilliance, improvisation and verve in jazz music. Her masterpieces are equally popular today among jazz lovers as were in earlier decades. She had a flourishing career path for years until she gave in to her battle against drug addiction. The film ‘Lady Sings the Blues’ was based on her autobiography. A spectacle of her time, she was inspired by Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith. Holiday is considered as one of the most peerless voices in jazz music till date. Her last major album ‘Lady in Satin’ was conducted by Ray Fills and features an orchestra encompassing 40 musicians
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Childhood & Early Life
Billie Holiday was born in Philadelphia on April 7, 1915 to Sarah Juliah and Clarance Holiday who were neither married nor living together.
She faced a challenging childhood. Her father, who was a jazz guitarist, left them to pursue career in music. Her mother Sarah had to keep Billie in Baltimore at Eva Miller’s house who was Sarah’s half sister. The first ten years, she was mostly raised by Martha Miller, mother-in-law of Eva.
On January 5, 1925, a juvenile court sent her to Catholic reform school ‘The House of the Good Shepherd’ due to her truancy in school.
On December 24, 1926, her neighbour Wilbur Rich attempted rape on her. She was sent to protective custody of ‘House of the Good Shepherd’.
Her mother left for Harlem in New York in 1928, leaving her with Martha Miller. She joined her mother in Harlem in 1929, who by that time had become a prostitute. Within no time, Billie also began working as a prostitute even before the age of 14.
The brothel was raided on May 2, 1929 when both of them were taken into custody. While her mother was released in July, she was released in October.
Career
Billie Holiday started her music career in 1929 with neighbour Kenneth Hollan. During 1929 to 1931, they performed at various clubs including ‘Brooklyn Elks’ Club’, ‘Grey Dawn’ and ‘Mexico’s’.
In 1932, she was inducted at a club at West 132nd Street replacing singer Monette Moore where Producer John Hammond heard her.
In November 1933, he voice was recorded for the first time under the arrangement of John Hammond. Her two songs along with Benny Goodman were released on November 11. One of them, ‘Riffin' the Scotch’ was an instant hit and saw a whopping sale of 5,000 copies.
In 1935, she played a part in musical short ‘Symphony in Black: A Rhapsody of Negro Life’ starring Duke Ellington. It featured her in a song ‘Saddest Tale’ sung by her. She signed with ‘Brunswick Records’ and collaborated with Teddy Wilson to record pop music in swing style. Their first record ‘What a Little Moonlight Can Do’ gave her recognition as an artist.
From 1936 to 1938 she, along with Teddy Wilson, appeared in a series of phenomenal performances co-produced by Bernie Hanighen and John Hammond. Tunes like ‘Twenty-Four Hours a Day’ were turned into jazz classics by the two singers.
Billie Holiday had a brief encounter with jazz pianist Count Basie in 1937 when she joined a band as vocalist. The band moved from one city to other performing one-nighters in different clubs.
In 1938 she became first black woman to team up with a white orchestra when she was hired by Artie Shaw. In March 1938, they both were broadcast on WABC now WCBS, famous radio station in New York. ‘Any Old Time’ was the only song she could record with Shaw.
In 1939 she performed ‘Strange Fruit’ in ‘Cafe Society’, a nightclub. She subsequently recorded it for ‘Commodore Records’ and later for ‘Verve”. It eventually became a big hit.
Songs that she performed with Teddy Wilson during the 1930s were recorded in 1944 by Commodore. She also recorded her version of ‘Embraceable You’, which was inducted in the ‘Grammy Hall of Fame’ in 2005.
In September 1946, she starred in a film, ‘New Orleans’, opposite Woody Herman and Louis Armstrong. The track ‘The Blues Are Brewin’ was recorded by her.
She had several music releases from 1949 till 1959 including full length albums. Her October 1949 recorded song ‘Crazy He Calls Me’ for ‘Decca’ was counted as her most successful rendition. Her autobiography ‘Lady Sings The Blues’ was published in 1956 by Doubleday. Her final album ‘Billie Holiday’ was released with MGM in 1958.
Major Works
Her first record with Teddy Wilson ‘What a Little Moonlight Can Do’ became a trend setter in jazz music.
In 1941, her song ‘God Bless the Child’ became a major hit, selling millions of records. It reached 25th rank in the charts and was placed in the third position as song of the year in Billboard.
Pop hit ‘Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be)’ specifically written for her is till date her highest charted hit.
Personal Life & Legacy
On August 25, 1941, Billie married Jimmy Monroe, a trombonist but divorced him in 1947.
She married Louis McKay on March 28, 1957, who was a Mafia enforcer but separated later. Though issueless, Bevan Dufty and singer Billie Lorraine Feather were her two godchildren.
On July 17, 1959 she died in New York due to cirrhosis of liver and was buried in Bronx County, New York at Saint Raymond’s Cemetery.
She was arrested in NY on May 16, 1947, for possessing narcotics and sentenced to ‘Alderson Federal Prison Camp’ at West Virginia. She was released early due to good behaviour on March 16, 1948. .
She was arrested on January 22, 1949, at San Francisco's Hotel Mark Twain.
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Billie Holiday's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 0 | 2010; 2005; 2000 - Grammy Hall of Fame - You're My Thrill / Crazy He Calls Me; As Time Goes By / Embraceable You; Lady in Satin | |
| 0 | 1987 - Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award | |
Billie Holiday biography timelines
- // 7th Apr 1915Billie Holiday was born in Philadelphia on April 7, 1915 to Sarah Juliah and Clarance Holiday who were neither married nor living together.
- // 5th Jan 1925On January 5, 1925, a juvenile court sent her to Catholic reform school ‘The House of the Good Shepherd’ due to her truancy in school.
- // 24th Dec 1926On December 24, 1926, her neighbour Wilbur Rich attempted rape on her. She was sent to protective custody of ‘House of the Good Shepherd’.
- // 1928 To 1929Her mother left for Harlem in New York in 1928, leaving her with Martha Miller. She joined her mother in Harlem in 1929, who by that time had become a prostitute. Within no time, Billie also began working as a prostitute even before the age of 14.
- // 2nd May 1929The brothel was raided on May 2, 1929 when both of them were taken into custody. While her mother was released in July, she was released in October.
- // 1932In 1932, she was inducted at a club at West 132nd Street replacing singer Monette Moore where Producer John Hammond heard her.
- // Nov 1933In November 1933, he voice was recorded for the first time under the arrangement of John Hammond. Her two songs along with Benny Goodman were released on November 11. One of them, ‘Riffin' the Scotch’ was an instant hit and saw a whopping sale of 5,000 copies.
- // 1935In 1935, she played a part in musical short ‘Symphony in Black: A Rhapsody of Negro Life’ starring Duke Ellington. It featured her in a song ‘Saddest Tale’ sung by her. She signed with ‘Brunswick Records’ and collaborated with Teddy Wilson to record pop music in swing style. Their first record ‘What a Little Moonlight Can Do’ gave her recognition as an artist.
- // 1936 To 1938From 1936 to 1938 she, along with Teddy Wilson, appeared in a series of phenomenal performances co-produced by Bernie Hanighen and John Hammond. Tunes like ‘Twenty-Four Hours a Day’ were turned into jazz classics by the two singers.
- // 1937Billie Holiday had a brief encounter with jazz pianist Count Basie in 1937 when she joined a band as vocalist. The band moved from one city to other performing one-nighters in different clubs.
- // Mar 1938In 1938 she became first black woman to team up with a white orchestra when she was hired by Artie Shaw. In March 1938, they both were broadcast on WABC now WCBS, famous radio station in New York. ‘Any Old Time’ was the only song she could record with Shaw.
- // 1939In 1939 she performed ‘Strange Fruit’ in ‘Cafe Society’, a nightclub. She subsequently recorded it for ‘Commodore Records’ and later for ‘Verve”. It eventually became a big hit.
- // 1941In 1941, her song ‘God Bless the Child’ became a major hit, selling millions of records. It reached 25th rank in the charts and was placed in the third position as song of the year in Billboard.
- // 25th Aug 1941 To 1947On August 25, 1941, Billie married Jimmy Monroe, a trombonist but divorced him in 1947.
- // 1944 To 2005Songs that she performed with Teddy Wilson during the 1930s were recorded in 1944 by Commodore. She also recorded her version of ‘Embraceable You’, which was inducted in the ‘Grammy Hall of Fame’ in 2005.
- // Sep 1946In September 1946, she starred in a film, ‘New Orleans’, opposite Woody Herman and Louis Armstrong. The track ‘The Blues Are Brewin’ was recorded by her.
- // 16th May 1947 To 16th Mar 1948She was arrested in NY on May 16, 1947, for possessing narcotics and sentenced to ‘Alderson Federal Prison Camp’ at West Virginia. She was released early due to good behaviour on March 16, 1948. .
- // 22nd Jan 1949She was arrested on January 22, 1949, at San Francisco's Hotel Mark Twain.
- // 28th Mar 1957She married Louis McKay on March 28, 1957, who was a Mafia enforcer but separated later. Though issueless, Bevan Dufty and singer Billie Lorraine Feather were her two godchildren.
- // 17th Jul 1959On July 17, 1959 she died in New York due to cirrhosis of liver and was buried in Bronx County, New York at Saint Raymond’s Cemetery.
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Billie Holiday's FAQ
What is Billie Holiday birthday?
Billie Holiday was born at 1915-04-07
When was Billie Holiday died?
Billie Holiday was died at 1959-07-17
Where was Billie Holiday died?
Billie Holiday was died in New York City
Which age was Billie Holiday died?
Billie Holiday was died at age 44
Where is Billie Holiday's birth place?
Billie Holiday was born in Philadelphia
What is Billie Holiday nationalities?
Billie Holiday's nationalities is American
Who is Billie Holiday spouses?
Billie Holiday's spouses is Jimmy Monroe, Joe Guy, Louis McKay
What is Billie Holiday's cause of dead?
Billie Holiday dead because of Alcoholism
What is Billie Holiday's religion?
Billie Holiday's religion is Catholicism
How tall is Billie Holiday?
Billie Holiday's height is 165
Who is Billie Holiday's father?
Billie Holiday's father is Clarence Holiday
Who is Billie Holiday's mother?
Billie Holiday's mother is Sarah Julia Fagan
What is Billie Holiday's sun sign?
Billie Holiday is Aries
How famous is Billie Holiday?
Billie Holiday is famouse as Musician