Billie Holiday - Bio, Age, Chinese Zodiac Sign & Timeline
| Born | April 07, 1915 |
|---|---|
| Died | July 17, 1959 (age 44) |
| Birthplace | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Zodiac Sign | Aries |
| Chinese Zodiac | Rabbit |
| Generation | Greatest Generation |
| Known For | Transforming jazz singing with her deeply personal vocal style and releasing iconic songs such as "Strange Fruit" and "God Bless the Child." |
Intro
Billie Holiday was an influential American jazz and swing music singer, renowned for her deeply emotive vocal style and pioneering contributions to vocal jazz. Her unique phrasing and expressive delivery elevated songs like "Strange Fruit," "God Bless the Child," and "Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)" to classic status. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest jazz vocalists of all time.
Early Life & Background
Billie Holiday was born Eleanora Fagan in Philadelphia but grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. She experienced a tumultuous childhood marked by poverty and hardship. Both of her parents were teenagers when she was born and separated soon after. Holiday spent much of her youth in and out of various institutions before moving to New York City in her early teens, where she began singing in nightclubs in Harlem.
Career Highlights
- Recorded first album with Teddy Wilson in 1935, launching her recording career.
- Joined Count Basie's orchestra in 1937 and worked with Artie Shaw in 1938, becoming one of the first Black women to work with a white orchestra.
- Released politically charged track "Strange Fruit" in 1939, which became a touchstone in American protest music.
- Co-wrote and recorded "God Bless the Child" in 1941, one of her signature songs.
- Received four posthumous Grammy Awards (1973, 1987, 2002, 2020) for her contributions to music.
- Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as an Early Influence).
Trivia
- Her nickname "Lady Day" was bestowed by saxophonist Lester Young, her close friend and musical collaborator.
- "Strange Fruit," a protest song about lynching in America, was originally a poem written by Abel Meeropol.
- Holiday’s autobiography, "Lady Sings the Blues," was adapted into a 1972 film starring Diana Ross.
- Despite her immense talent, Holiday struggled with addiction and legal issues throughout her life, and these struggles informed much of the emotional depth in her music.
FAQs
People also ask
When was Billie Holiday born?
Billie Holiday was born the 7 April 1915.
Where is Billie Holiday from?
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
On Her Birth-Day
About April 7th, 1915, in brief:
- Historical events: Billie Holiday, one of the most influential jazz singers in American history, was born in Philadelphia. Known for her distinctive vocal style and iconic songs like 'God Bless the Child', she would later author the influential autobiography *Lady Sings the Blues* before her untimely death in 1959.
- Day of the week: April 7th, 1915 was a Wednesday
- Zodiac Sign: Aries (in western zodiac), Rabbit (in Chinese zodiac)
- Moon Phase: Last Quarter
- #1 US song: Goodbye, Girls, I'm Through by Lambert Murphy
- Popular movie: Filibus directed by Mario Roncoroni
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