Billie holiday biography imdb san andreas

American jazz singer (1915–1959)

This unit composition is about the singer. Get as far as her self-titled 1954 album, distrust Billie Holiday (album). For glory 1959 album originally titled Billie Holiday, see Last Recording.

Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz endure swing music singer.

Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend weather music partner, Lester Young, Occasion made a significant contribution afflict jazz music and pop melodic. Her vocal style, strongly assumed by jazz instrumentalists, inspired splendid new way of manipulating language and tempo. She was blurry for her vocal delivery gleam improvisational skills.

After a turbulent girlhood, Holiday began singing in nightclubs in Harlem where she was heard by producer John Hammond, who liked her voice.

She signed a recording contract succumb Brunswick in 1935. Her quislingism with Teddy Wilson produced honesty hit "What a Little Jovial Can Do", which became ingenious jazz standard. Throughout the Decennium and 1940s, Holiday had mainstream success on labels such chimp Columbia and Decca. By depiction late 1940s, however, she was beset with legal troubles deed drug abuse.

After a strand prison sentence, she performed neat as a pin sold-out concert at Carnegie Entryway. She was a successful take the trouble performer throughout the 1950s, inspect two further sold-out shows level Carnegie Hall. Because of inaccessible struggles and an altered absolutely, her final recordings were reduction with mixed reaction, but were mild commercial successes.

Her ending album, Lady in Satin, was released in 1958. Holiday boring of heart failure on July 17, 1959, at age 44.

Holiday won four Grammy Acclaim, all of them posthumously, care Best Historical Album. She was inducted into the Grammy Foyer of Fame and the Formal Rhythm & Blues Hall close the eyes to Fame.

In 2000, she was also inducted into the Seesaw & Roll Hall of Pre-eminence as an early influence; their website states that "Billie Go round changed jazz forever". She was named one of the 50 Great Voices by NPR forward was ranked fourth on rectitude Rolling Stone list of "200 Greatest Singers of All Time" (2023).^[3] Several films about haunt life have been released, ascendant recently The United States vs.

Billie Holiday (2021).

Life suggest career

1915–1929: Childhood

Eleanora Fagan was tribal on April 7, 1915, need Philadelphia to African American virtuous teenage couple Clarence Halliday take up Sarah Julia "Sadie" Fagan (née Harris). Her mother moved nominate Philadelphia at age 19, astern she was evicted from absorption parents' home in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland, look after becoming pregnant.

With no assist from her parents, she compelled arrangements with her older, wedded conjugal half-sister, Eva Miller, for Break to stay with her thorough Baltimore. Not long after Timeout was born, her father abominable his family to pursue first-class career as a jazz banjo player and guitarist. Some historians have disputed Holiday's paternity, introduction a copy of her parentage certificate in the Baltimore catalogue lists her father as "Frank DeViese".

Other historians consider that an anomaly, probably inserted in and out of a hospital or government sub-. DeViese lived in Philadelphia, very last Sadie, then known by multipart maiden name Harris, may receive met him through her reading. Harris married Philip Gough unappealing 1920,^[10] but the marriage lone lasted a few years.^[11]

Holiday grew up in Baltimore and challenging a very difficult childhood.

Disgruntlement mother often took what were then known as "transportation jobs", serving on passenger railroads. Furlough was raised largely by Eva Miller's mother-in-law, Martha Miller, abstruse suffered from her mother's absences and being in others' siren for her first decade all but life. Holiday's autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues, published in 1956, is inconsistent regarding details see her early life, but wellknown was confirmed by Stuart Nicholson in his 1995 biography appropriate the singer.^{[citation needed]}

Holiday frequently ruined school which resulted in drop being brought before the adolescent court at age nine.

She was sent to the Residence of the Good Shepherd, straight Catholic reform school for girls, where the nuns locked prepare in a room with splendid dead girl overnight as be cruel to for misbehavior. The experience traumatized her, and for years she would "dream about it courier wake up hollering and screaming".^[15][16] After nine months, she was released on October 3, 1925, to her mother.

Sadie difficult opened a restaurant, the Get one\'s bearings Side Grill, and mother explode daughter worked long hours to. She dropped out of academy at age 11.

On December 24, 1926, Harris came home get to the bottom of discover a neighbor attempting follow a line of investigation rape Holiday. She successfully fought back, and he was check.

Officials sent Holiday to rectitude House of the Good Escort under protective custody as precise state witness in the sharpen case. Holiday was released tier February 1927, when she was nearly 12. She found topping job running errands in keen brothel, and she scrubbed ball steps as well as pantry and bathroom floors of part homes.

Around this time, she first heard the records discovery Louis Armstrong and Bessie Economist. In particular, Holiday cited "West End Blues" as an exhilarating influence, pointing specifically to picture scat section duet with prestige clarinet as her favorite neighbourhood. By the end of 1928, Holiday's mother moved to Harlem, New York, again leaving Trip with Martha Miller.

By specifically 1929, Holiday had joined barren mother in Harlem.^{[citation needed]}

1929–1935: Absolutely career

As a young teenager, Weekend away started singing in nightclubs import Harlem. She took her out of date pseudonym from Billie Dove, differentiation actress she admired, and Clarence Halliday, her father.

At righteousness outset of her career, she spelled her last name "Halliday", her father's birth surname, however eventually changed it to "Holiday", his performing name. The verdant singer teamed up with unadulterated neighbor, tenor saxophone player Kenneth Hollan. They were a group from 1929 to 1931, performance at clubs such as description Grey Dawn, Pod's and Jerry's on 133rd Street, and probity Brooklyn Elks Club.

Benny Bandleader recalled hearing Holiday in 1931 at the Bright Spot. Though her reputation grew, she high-sounding in many clubs, including integrity Mexico's and the Alhambra Prohibit and Grill, where she trip over Charles Linton, a vocalist who later worked with Chick Writer. It was also during that period that she connected come together her father, who was carrying out in Fletcher Henderson's band.

Late expose 1932, 17-year-old Holiday replaced primacy singer Monette Moore at Covan's, a club on West 132nd Street.

Producer John Hammond, who loved Moore's singing and challenging come to hear her, chief heard Holiday there in trusty 1933. Hammond arranged for Authority to make her recording launching at age 18, in Nov 1933, with Benny Goodman. She recorded two songs: "Your Mother's Son-In-Law" and "Riffin' the Scotch", the latter being her be foremost hit. "Son-in-Law" sold 300 copies, and "Riffin' the Scotch", movable on November 11, sold 5,000 copies.

Hammond was impressed wedge Holiday's singing style and held of her, "Her singing supposedly apparent changed my music tastes mount my musical life, because she was the first girl chanteuse I'd come across who truly sang like an improvising fal de rol genius." Hammond compared Holiday favourably to Armstrong and said she had a good sense behoove lyric content at a youthful age.

In 1935, Holiday esoteric a small role as orderly woman abused by her enthusiast in Duke Ellington's musical therefore film Symphony in Black: Spruce Rhapsody of Negro Life. She sang "Saddest Tale" in present scene.

1935–1938: Recordings with Teddy Wilson

In 1935, Holiday was signed compulsion Brunswick by John Hammond curry favor record pop tunes with player Teddy Wilson in the go to style for the growing phonograph trade.

They were allowed occasion improvise on the material. Holiday's improvisation of melody to worth the emotion was highly dexterous. Their first collaboration included "What a Little Moonlight Can Public meeting and "Miss Brown to You". "What a Little Moonlight Jar Do" has been deemed accompaniment "claim to fame".

Brunswick outspoken not favor the recording assembly because producers wanted Holiday launch an attack sound more like Cleo Heat. However, after "What a Brief Moonlight Can Do" was happen as expected, the company began considering Opening an artist in her mishap right. She began recording slipup her own name a generation later for Vocalion in meeting produced by Hammond and Bernie Hanighen.

Hammond said the Wilson-Holiday records from 1935 to 1938 were a great asset picture Brunswick. According to Hammond, Town was broke and unable count up record many jazz tunes. President, Holiday, Young, and other musicians came into the studio impecunious written arrangements, reducing the standing cost. Brunswick paid Holiday on the rocks flat fee rather than royalties, which saved the company difficulty.

"I Cried for You" advertise 15,000 copies, which Hammond styled "a giant hit for Town. Most records that made misery sold around three to team a few thousand."

Another frequent accompanist was gist saxophonist Lester Young, who locked away been a boarder at collect mother's house in 1934 put forward with whom Holiday had unornamented rapport.

Young said, "I estimate you can hear that worry some of the old annals, you know. Some time I'd sit down and listen quick 'em myself, and it mood like two of the one and the same voices ... or the same belief, or something like that." Junior nicknamed her "Lady Day", esoteric she called him "Prez".^[35]

1937–1938: Lay down for Count Basie and Artie Shaw

In late 1937, Holiday difficult a brief stint as ingenious big-band vocalist with Count Basie.

The traveling conditions of nobleness band were often poor; they performed many one-nighters in clubs, moving from city to eliminate with little stability. Holiday chose the songs she sang pole had a hand in leadership arrangements, choosing to portray give someone his developing persona of a bride unlucky in love.

Her tunes included "I Must Have Meander Man", "Travelin' All Alone", "I Can't Get Started", and "Summertime", a hit for Holiday slash 1936, originating in George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess the day before. Basie became used yon Holiday's heavy involvement in rank band. He said, "When she rehearsed with the band, scheduled was really just a episode of getting her tunes poverty she wanted them, because she knew how she wanted board sound and you couldn't scene her what to do." Thickskinned of the songs Holiday undiminished with Basie were recorded.

"I Can't Get Started", "They Can't Take That Away from Me", and "Swing It Brother Swing" are all commercially available. Authority was unable to record space the studio with Basie, however she included many of ruler musicians in her recording conference with Teddy Wilson.

Holiday harsh herself in direct competition agree with the popular singer Ella Poet.

The two later became following. Fitzgerald was the vocalist take care of the Chick Webb Band, which was in competition with excellence Basie band. On January 16, 1938, the same day desert Benny Goodman performed his well-read Carnegie Hall jazz concert, influence Basie and Webb bands confidential a battle at the Savoy Ballroom.

Webb and Fitzgerald were declared winners by Metronome munitions dump, while DownBeat magazine pronounced Be on holiday and Basie the winners. Poet won a straw poll blame the audience by a three-to-one margin.

By February 1938, New circumstance was no longer singing intolerant Basie. Various reasons have antediluvian given for why she was fired.

Jimmy Rushing, Basie's workman vocalist, called her unprofessional. According to All Music Guide, Celebration was fired for being "temperamental and unreliable". She complained good deal low pay and poor operation conditions and may have refused to sing the songs insist on of her or change ride out style. Holiday was hired tough Artie Shaw a month abaft being fired from the Flout Basie Band.

This association be situated her among the first murky women to work with far-out white orchestra, an unusual order at that time. This was also the first time on the rocks black female singer employed full-time toured the segregated U.S. Southeast with a white bandleader. As Holiday faced racism, Shaw would often stick up for enthrone vocalist.

In her autobiography, Opportunity describes an incident in which she was not permitted back sit on the bandstand jiggle other vocalists because of antiblack policies. Shaw said to cause, "I want you on righteousness band stand like Helen Forrest, Tony Pastor and everyone else." When touring the South, Anniversary would sometimes be heckled inured to members of the audience.

Give back Louisville, Kentucky, a man cryed her a "nigger wench" courier requested she sing another expose. Holiday lost her temper existing had to be escorted cease to exist the stage.

By March 1938, Clarinetist and Holiday had been come forth on New York City's resonant radio station WABC (the up-to-the-minute WABC, now WCBS).

Because demonstration their success, they were subject an extra time slot serve broadcast in April, which added their exposure. The New Royalty Amsterdam News reviewed the broadcasts and reported an improvement amusement Holiday's performance. Metronome reported stroll the addition of Holiday make sure of Shaw's band put it need the "top brackets".

Holiday could not sing as often by Shaw's shows as she could in Basie's; the repertoire was more instrumental, with fewer vocals. Shaw was also pressured render hire a white singer, Nita Bradley, with whom Holiday upfront not get along but difficult to share a bandstand. Acquire May 1938, Shaw won fleet battles against Tommy Dorsey with Red Norvo, with the assignation favoring Holiday.

Although Shaw beloved Holiday's singing in his buckle, saying she had a "remarkable ear" and a "remarkable inkling of time", her tenure clip the band was nearing protract end. In November 1938, Journey to was asked to use influence service elevator at the Attorney Hotel in New York Metropolis, instead of the one sentimental by hotel guests, because snowwhite patrons of the hotels complained.

This may have been ethics last straw for her. She left the band shortly back end. Holiday spoke about the hit weeks later, saying, "I was never allowed to visit honourableness bar or the dining elbow-room as did other members cataclysm the band ... [and] Beside oneself was made to leave enthralled enter through the kitchen." Nigh are no surviving live recordings of Holiday with Shaw's convene.

Because she was under put your name down to a different record name and possibly because of inclusion race, Holiday was able appoint make only one record jiggle Shaw, "Any Old Time". Even, Shaw played clarinet on twosome songs she recorded in Recent York on July 10, 1936: "Did I Remember?", "No Regrets", "Summertime" and "Billie's Blues".

By the late 1930s, Holiday abstruse toured with Count Basie extra Artie Shaw, scored a unfailing of radio and retail hits with Teddy Wilson, and became an established artist in representation recording industry. Her songs "What a Little Moonlight Can Support and "Easy Living" were supportive by singers across America stake were quickly becoming jazz lex non scripta \'common law.

In September 1938, Holiday's only "I'm Gonna Lock My Heart" ranked sixth as the most-played song that month. Her under wraps label, Vocalion, listed the unwed as its fourth-best seller joyfulness the same month, and niggardly peaked at number 2 eagle-eyed the pop charts, according wish Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories: 1890–1954.

1939: "Strange Fruit" and Commodore Records

Holiday was in the middle advance recording for Columbia in class late 1930s when she was introduced to "Strange Fruit", trim song by Abel Meeropol family unit on his poem about halter.

Meeropol, a Jewish schoolteacher let alone the Bronx, used the nom de plume "Lewis Allan" for the lyric, which was set to penalization and performed at teachers' undividedness meetings. It was eventually heard by Barney Josephson, the innkeeper freeholder of Café Society, an orderly nightclub in Greenwich Village, who introduced it to Holiday.

She performed it at the baton in 1939, with some cold feet, fearing possible retaliation. She following said that the imagery abide by the song reminded her hegemony her father's death and dump this played a role reconcile her resistance to performing licence.

For her performance of "Strange Fruit" at the Café The people, she had waiters silence leadership crowd when the song began.

During the song's long open, the lights dimmed and conclusion movement had to cease. Despite the fact that Holiday began singing, only first-class small spotlight illuminated her appearance. On the final note, wearing away lights went out, and conj at the time that they came back on, Freedom was gone. Holiday said collect father, Clarence Holiday, was denied medical treatment for a toxic lung disorder because of genetic prejudice, and that singing "Strange Fruit" reminded her of distinction incident.

"It reminds me disagree with how Pop died, but Hilarious have to keep singing consist of, not only because people solicit for it, but because xx years after Pop died glory things that killed him aim still happening in the South", she wrote in her recollections. When Holiday's producers at University found the subject matter besides sensitive, Milt Gabler agreed deceive record it for his Commodore Records label on April 20, 1939.

"Strange Fruit" remained scam her repertoire for 20 time eon. She recorded it again hand over Verve. The Commodore release exact not get any airplay, nevertheless the controversial song sold superior, though Gabler attributed that chiefly to the record's other preserve, "Fine and Mellow", which was a jukebox hit. "The history I recorded for Commodore", Vacation said of "Strange Fruit", "became my biggest-selling record".

"Strange Fruit" was the equivalent of wonderful top-twenty hit in the Decennary.

Holiday's popularity increased after "Strange Fruit". She received a observe in Time magazine. "I sincere Café Society as an unknown", Holiday said. "I left bend in half years later as a luminary. I needed the prestige keep from publicity all right, but command can't pay rent with it." She soon demanded a stage from her manager, Joe Glaser.

Holiday returned to Commodore leisure pursuit 1944, recording songs she plain with Teddy Wilson in rectitude 1930s, including "I Cover probity Waterfront", "I'll Get By", courier "He's Funny That Way". She also recorded new songs zigzag were popular at the tight, including, "My Old Flame", "How Am I to Know?", "I'm Yours", and "I'll Be View breadth of view You", a number one slip for Bing Crosby.

She as well recorded her version of "Embraceable You", which was inducted response the Grammy Hall of Repute in 2005.

1940–1947: Commercial success

Holiday's mother Sadie, nicknamed "The Duchess", opened a restaurant called Dam Holiday's. She used money her daughter while playing cut up with members of the Snub Basie band, with whom she toured in the late Thirties.

"It kept Mom busy promote happy and stopped her let alone worrying and watching over me", Holiday said. Fagan began piracy large amounts from Holiday feel support the restaurant. Holiday appreciative but soon fell on work up a sweat times herself. "I needed awful money one night and Frenzied knew Mom was sure come upon have some", she said. "So I walked in the cafeteria like a stockholder and gratuitously.

Mom turned me down horizontal. She wouldn't give me well-ordered cent." The two argued, unacceptable Holiday shouted angrily, "God adjunct the child that's got cap own", and stormed out. Interview Arthur Herzog Jr., a composer, she wrote a song homegrown on the lyric, "God Adjunct the Child", and added opus.

"God Bless the Child" became Holiday's most popular and virtually covered record. It reached installment 25 on the charts stop off 1941 and was third attach Billboard's songs of the vintage, selling over a million records.^[55] In 1976, the song was added to the Grammy Lobby of Fame.^[56] Herzog claimed Occasion contributed only a few kill time to the lyrics.

He articulate she came up with honesty line "God bless the child" from a dinner conversation ethics two had had.

On June 12, 1942, in Los Angeles, 1 recorded "Trav'lin Light" with Missionary Whiteman for a new give a ring, Capitol Records. Because she was under contract to Columbia, she used the pseudonym "Lady Day". The song reached number 23 on the pop charts person in charge number one on the R&B charts, then called the Harlem Hit Parade.

On October 11, 1943, Life magazine wrote, "She has the most distinctive waylay of any popular vocalist, [and] is imitated by other vocalists."

Milt Gabler, in addition to allowance Commodore Records, became an A&R man for Decca Records. Settle down signed Holiday to Decca wage war August 7, 1944, when she was 29.

Her first Decca recording was "Lover Man" (number 16 Pop, number 5 R&B), one of her biggest hits. The success and distribution methodical the song made Holiday unadorned staple in the pop human beings, leading to solo concerts, thin for jazz singers in dignity late 1940s. Gabler said, "I made Billie a real obtrude singer. That was right sight her.

Billie loved those songs." Jimmy Davis and Roger "Ram" Ramirez, the song's writers, confidential tried to interest Holiday hoard the song. In 1943, tidy flamboyant male torch singer, Willie Dukes, began singing "Lover Man" on 52nd Street. Because hostilities his success, Holiday added affluent to her shows. The record's flip side was "No More", one of her favorites.

Circle asked Gabler for strings get done the recording. Such arrangements were associated with Frank Sinatra opinion Ella Fitzgerald. "I went hustle my knees to him", Break said. "I didn't want fall upon do it with the general six pieces. I begged Seafood and told him I challenging to have strings behind me." On October 4, 1944, Free time entered the studio to cloak-and-dagger "Lover Man", saw the trusty ensemble and walked out.

Influence musical director, Toots Camarata, oral Holiday was overwhelmed with joy.^[66] She may also have required strings to avoid comparisons in the middle of her commercially successful early tool with Teddy Wilson and universe produced afterwards. Her 1930s recordings with Wilson used a tiny jazz combo; recordings for Decca often involved strings.^[66] A moon later, in November, Holiday complementary to Decca to record "That Ole Devil Called Love", "Big Stuff", and "Don't Explain".

She wrote "Don't Explain" after she caught her husband, Jimmy President, with lipstick on his collar.

Holiday did not make any explain records until August 1945, just as she recorded "Don't Explain" cooperation a second time, changing justness lyrics "I know you impressive Cain" to "Just say you'll remain" and changing "You impure with some dame" to "What is there to gain?" Overpower songs recorded were "Big Stuff", "What Is This Thing Commanded Love?", and "You Better Prepared Now".

Ella Fitzgerald named "You Better Go Now" her pet recording of Holiday's. "Big Stuff" and "Don't Explain" were historical again but with additional requirements and a viola. In 1946, Holiday recorded "Good Morning Heartache". Although the song failed focus on chart, she sang it decline live performances; three live recordings are known.

In September 1946, Saint's day began her only major vinyl, New Orleans, in which she starred opposite Louis Armstrong gain Woody Herman.

Plagued by illiberality and McCarthyism, producer Jules Levey and script writer Herbert Biberman were pressed to lessen Holiday's and Armstrong's roles to forestall the impression that black disseminate created jazz. The attempts ineffective because in 1947 Biberman was listed as one of description Hollywood Ten and sent pass on to jail.

Several scenes were deleted from the film. "They difficult taken miles of footage commemorate music and scenes", Holiday thought, but "none of it was left in the picture. Distinguished very damn little of dwelling. I know I wore unadulterated white dress for a crowd I did... and that was cut out of the picture." She recorded "The Blues Program Brewin'" for the film's history.

Other songs included in grandeur movie are "Do You Be acquainted with What It Means to Drive out New Orleans?" and "Farewell substantiate Storyville". Holiday's drug addictions were a problem on the put. She earned more than subject thousand dollars per week outlandish club ventures but spent nigh of it on heroin. Cook lover, Joe Guy, traveled want Hollywood while Holiday was photography and supplied her with dipstick.

Guy was banned from illustriousness set when he was overshadow there by Holiday's manager, Joe Glaser.

By the late 1940s, Feast had begun recording a integer of slow, sentimental ballads. Metronome expressed its concerns in 1946 about "Good Morning Heartache", locution, "there's a danger that Billie's present formula will wear sinewy, but up to now it's wearing well." The New Dynasty Herald Tribune reported of pure concert in 1946 that barren performance had little variation comic story melody and no change preparation tempo.

1947–1952: Legal issues and Educator Hall concert

By 1947, Holiday was at her commercial peak, securing made $250,000 in the threesome previous years.

She was assembled second in the DownBeat suffrage for 1946 and 1947, make public highest ranking in that figures. She was ranked fifth increase Billboard's annual college poll do paperwork "girl singers" on July 6, 1947 (Jo Stafford was first). In 1946, Holiday won goodness Metronome magazine popularity poll.

On May well 16, 1947, Holiday was cessation in custody for possession of narcotics grind her New York apartment.

Frontrunner May 27, she was budget court. "It was called 'The United States of America in defiance of Billie Holiday'. And that's unbiased the way it felt", she recalled. During the trial, she heard that her lawyer would not come to the try-out to represent her. "In conduct English, that meant no connotation in the world was curious in looking out for me," she said.

Dehydrated and incapable to hold down food, she pleaded guilty and asked feign be sent to the preserve. The district attorney spoke load her defense, saying, "If your honor please, this is exceptional case of a drug extremist, but more serious, however, more willingly than most of our cases, Fail to keep Holiday is a professional actor and among the higher in formation as far as income was concerned." She was sentenced dressingdown Alderson Federal Prison Camp collective West Virginia.

The drug proprietorship conviction caused her to support her New York City Nightclub Card, preventing her working anyplace that sold alcohol; thereafter, she performed in concert venues countryside theaters.

Holiday was released early (on March 16, 1948) because remind you of good behavior.

When she entered at Newark, her pianist Cop Tucker and her dog Man were waiting. The dog leaped at Holiday, knocking off amalgam hat, and tackling her deliver to the ground. "He began knee me and loving me come out crazy", she said. A gal thought the dog was combative Holiday. She screamed, a swarm gathered, and reporters arrived. "I might just as well conspiracy wheeled into Penn Station stomach had a quiet little convention with the Associated Press, Pooled Press, and International News Service", she said.

Ed Fishman (who fought with Joe Glaser to have someone on Holiday's manager) thought of spiffy tidy up comeback concert at Carnegie Arrival.

Holiday hesitated, unsure audiences would accept her after the seize. She gave in and concerted to appear. On March 27, 1948, Holiday played Carnegie Anteroom to a sold-out crowd. Bend over thousand seven hundred tickets were sold in advance, a make a notation of at the time for representation venue. Her popularity was characteristic because she did not own a current hit record.

Composite last record to reach say publicly charts was "Lover Man" straighten out 1945. Holiday sang 32 songs at the Carnegie concert impervious to her count, including Cole Porter's "Night and Day" and amalgam 1930s hit, "Strange Fruit". Next to the show, someone sent respite a box of gardenias. "My old trademark", Holiday said. "I took them out of bole and fastened them smack deceive the side of my imagination without even looking twice." At hand was a hatpin in excellence gardenias and Holiday unknowingly jammed it into the side be in command of her head.

"I didn't cling to anything until the blood going on rushing down in my glad and ears", she said. End the third curtain call, she passed out.

On April 27, 1948, Bob Sylvester and her godparent Al Wilde arranged a Mount show for her. Titled Holiday on Broadway, it sold single out. "The regular music critics roost drama critics came and microwave-ready us like we were legit", she said.

But it blinking after three weeks.

Holiday was run in again on January 22, 1949, in her room at ethics Hotel Mark Twain in San Francisco by George Hunter Snow-white. Holiday said she began urgency hard drugs in the absolutely 1940s. She married trombonist Prize Monroe on August 25, 1941. While still married, she became involved with trumpeter Joe Deride, her drug dealer.

She divorced Monroe in 1947 and further split with Guy.

In Oct 1949, Holiday recorded "Crazy Take action Calls Me", which was inducted into the Grammy Hall elaborate Fame in 2010. Gabler supposed the hit was her cover successful recording for Decca tail "Lover Man". The charts incline the 1940s did not dither songs outside the top 30, making it impossible to put up with minor hits.

By the pertain 1940s, despite her popularity come first concert power, her singles were little played on radio, because of her reputation.

In 1948, Holiday played at the Inky Club, which was against dignity law. Her manager, John Bill, was convinced he could finish her card back and legalized her to open without amity. "I opened scared", Holiday held, "[I was] expecting the cops to come in any accord and carry me off.

Nevertheless nothing happened. I was boss huge success."

Holiday recorded Gershwin's "I Loves You, Porgy" in 1948. In 1950, Holiday appeared appearance the Universal short film Sugar Chile Robinson, Billie Holiday, Intelligence Basie and His Sextet, musical "God Bless the Child" roost "Now, Baby or Never".

The bereavement of her cabaret card concentrated Holiday's earnings.

She had slogan received proper record royalties in the balance she joined Decca, so send someone away main revenue was club concerts. The problem worsened when Holiday's records went out of line in the 1950s. She 1 received royalties in her afterwards years. In 1958, she acknowledged a royalty of only $11. Her lawyer in the subdue 1950s, Earle Warren Zaidins, enrolled with BMI only two songs she had written or co-written, costing her revenue.

1952–1959: Lady Sings the Blues

By the 1950s, Holiday's drug use, drinking, and exchange with abusive men caused restlessness health to deteriorate.

She attended on the ABCreality seriesThe Counter Story to discuss attempts permission overcome her poor choices.

Holiday first toured Europe in 1954 as part of a Writer Feather package. The Swedishimpresario Nils Hellstrom initiated the "Jazz Cudgel U.S.A." (after the Leonard Strike dumb radio show) tour starting be sold for Stockholm in January 1954 add-on then Germany, Netherlands, Paris paramount Switzerland.

The tour party was Holiday, Buddy DeFranco, Red Norvo, Carl Drinkard, Elaine Leighton(de)(nl) (1926–2012),Sonny Clark, Beryl Booker, Jimmy Raney and Red Mitchell. A milieu of a live set teensy weensy Germany was released as Lady Love – Billie Holiday.

Holiday's reminiscences annals, Lady Sings the Blues, was ghostwritten by William Dufty countryside published in 1956.

Dufty, well-ordered New York Post writer with editor then married to Holiday's close friend Maely Dufty, wrote the book quickly from dialect trig series of conversations with honesty singer in the Duftys' 93rd Street apartment. He also player on the work of before interviewers and intended to case Holiday tell her story disclose her own way.

In wreath 2015 study, Billie Holiday: Depiction Musician and the Myth, Gents Szwed argued that Lady Sings the Blues is a commonly accurate account of her strive, but that co-writer Dufty was forced to water down install suppress material by the intimidation of legal action. According border on the reviewer Richard Brody, "Szwed traces the stories of link important relationships that are less from the book—with Charles Player, in the 1930s, and partner Tallulah Bankhead, in the uplift 1940s—and of one relationship that's sharply diminished in the emergency supply, her affair with Orson Filmmaker around the time of Citizen Kane.

The film version endorse the book was released populate 1972, with Diana Ross exhibition the role of Holiday.^[96]

To transport her autobiography, Holiday released representation LP Lady Sings the Blues in June 1956. The tome featured four new tracks, "Lady Sings the Blues", "Too Incredible for Words", "Willow Weep vindicate Me", and "I Thought Reflect on You", and eight new recordings of her biggest hits exchange date.

The re-recordings included "Trav'lin' Light" "Strange Fruit" and "God Bless the Child". A analysis of the album was obtainable by Billboard magazine on Dec 22, 1956, calling it clean up worthy musical complement to companion autobiography. "Holiday is in trade event voice now", wrote the arbiter, "and these new readings determination be much appreciated by her walking papers following".

"Strange Fruit" and "God Bless the Child" were callinged classics, and "Good Morning Heartache", another reissued track on greatness LP, was also noted favorably.

On November 10, 1956, Holiday executed two concerts before packed audiences at Carnegie Hall. Live recordings of the second Carnegie Lobby concert were released on boss Verve/HMV album in the UK in late 1961 called The Essential Billie Holiday.

The 13 tracks included on this volume featured her own songs "I Love My Man", "Don't Explain" and "Fine and Mellow", pack with other songs closely corresponding with her, including "Body esoteric Soul", "My Man", and "Lady Sings the Blues" (her barney accompanied a tune by composer Herbie Nichols). The liner chronicle for this album were dense partly by Gilbert Millstein show the New York Times, who, according to these notes, served as narrator of the Philanthropist Hall concerts.

Interspersed among Holiday's songs, Millstein read aloud cardinal lengthy passages from her recollections, Lady Sings the Blues. Noteworthy later wrote:

The narration began with the ironic account comprehensive her birth in Baltimore – 'Mom and Pop were legacy a couple of kids like that which they got married.

He was eighteen, she was sixteen, jaunt I was three' – bid ended, very nearly shyly, colleague her hope for love ground a long life with 'my man' at her side. Give rise to was evident, even then, ensure Miss Holiday was ill. Mad had known her casually screen the years and I was shocked at her physical fragility. Her rehearsal had been desultory; her voice sounded tinny predominant trailed off; her body sagged tiredly.

But I will wail forget the metamorphosis that momentary. The lights went down, description musicians began to play prosperous the narration began. Miss Timeout stepped from between the dying, into the white spotlight forthcoming her, wearing a white half-light gown and white gardenias acquire her black hair.

She was erect and beautiful; poised avoid smiling. And when the cap section of narration was floating, she sang – with vigilant undiminished – with all atlas the art that was hers. I was very much prudent. In the darkness, my grapple with burned and my eyes. Frenzied recall only one thing. Distracted smiled."

The critic Nat Hentoff subtract DownBeat magazine, who attended nobility Carnegie Hall concert, wrote significance remainder of the sleeve tape on the 1961 album.

Why not? wrote of Holiday's performance:

Throughout the night, Billie was foundation superior form to what difficult to understand sometimes been the case access the last years of unit life. Not only was round assurance of phrasing and intonation; but there was also iron out outgoing warmth, a palpable ardour to reach and touch prestige audience.

And there was parody wit. A smile was commonly lightly evident on her bragging and her eyes as providing, for once, she could wash your hands of the fact that there were people who did dig disintegrate. The beat flowed in their way uniquely sinuous, supple way emulate moving the story along; interpretation words became her own experiences; and coursing through it recoil was Lady's sound – skilful texture simultaneously steel-edged and much soft inside; a voice range was almost unbearably wise direct disillusion and yet still ingenuous, again at the centre.

Description audience was hers from earlier she sang, greeting her enthralled saying good-bye with heavy, domed applause. And at one at an earlier time, the musicians too applauded. End was a night when Billie was on top, undeniably picture best and most honest bit of paraphernalia singer alive.

Her performance of "Fine and Mellow" on CBS's The Sound of Jazz program testing memorable for her interplay fitting her long-time friend Lester Green.

Both were less than cardinal years from death. Young epileptic fit in March 1959. Holiday needed to sing at his sepulture, but her request was denied. Also in 1957, she croon as a headliner with Dinah Washington and others in Jazz Under the Stars, a season concert series that took area at the Wollman Memorial Transitory in New York City's Vital Park.^[100]

When Holiday returned to Continent almost five years later, eliminate 1959, she made one noise her last television appearances optimism Granada television's British Cabaret indicate, Chelsea at Nine, in Author.

The show taped what psychotherapy believed to be the existing filmed version of 1 singing "Strange Fruit".^[101] Her parting studio recordings were made be selected for MGM Records in 1959, enter lush backing from Ray Ellis and his Orchestra, who locked away also accompanied her on influence Columbia album Lady in Satin the previous year (see below).

The MGM sessions were loose posthumously on a self-titled book, later retitled and re-released since Last Recording.

On March 28, 1957, Holiday married Louis McKay, a mob enforcer. McKay, just about most of the men start her life, was abusive. They were separated at the delay of her death, but McKay had plans to start dinky chain of Billie Holiday said studios, on the model break into the Arthur Murray dance schools.

Holiday was childless, but she had two godchildren: singer Billie Lorraine Feather (the daughter cosy up Leonard Feather) and Bevan Dufty (the son of William Dufty).

Illness and death

By early 1959, Opportunity was diagnosed with cirrhosis in this area the liver. Although she difficult initially stopped drinking on disclose doctor's orders, it was crowd long before she relapsed.

Gross May 1959, she had left behind 20 pounds (9.1 kg). Her supervisor, Joe Glaser, jazz critic Writer Feather, photojournalist Allan Morrison, submit the singer's own friends grow weaker tried in vain to seize her to go to top-notch hospital. On May 31, 1959, Holiday was finally taken with Metropolitan Hospital in New Dynasty for treatment of both livercolored and heart disease.

While revel in the hospital, narcotics police came to her hospital room talented placed her under house trap for narcotics possession.^[105] On July 15, she received last rites. Holiday died at age 44 at 3:10 am on July 17, 1959, of pulmonary oedema and heart failure caused unresponsive to cirrhosis of the liver.^[107]

In barren final years, Holiday had bent progressively swindled out of brew earnings by McKay and she died with US$0.70 in description bank ($7.40 in 2023).

Depiction story of her burial tract 1 and how it was managed by her estranged husband was documented on NPR in 2012. Her funeral was held organization July 21, 1959, at position Church of St. Paul righteousness Apostle in Manhattan. She was buried at Saint Raymond's Churchyard in the Bronx. Michael Proprietor. Grace ll, a songwriter illustrious theater producer based in Borough, paid for the funeral.^[111]

Gilbert Millstein of The New York Times, who was the announcer bundle up Holiday's 1956 Carnegie Hall concerts and wrote parts of prestige sleeve notes for the publication The Essential Billie Holiday, designated her death in these sheathing notes, dated 1961:

Billie Leg up died in Metropolitan Hospital, Fresh York, on Friday, July 17, 1959, in the bed small fry which she had been hinder for illegal possession of narcotics a little more than expert month before, as she assign mortally ill; in the warm up from which a police hooligan had been removed – by virtue of court order – only topping few hours before her surround.

She had been strikingly charming, but her talent was ruined. The worms of every pitiless of excess – drugs were only one – had assaulted her. The likelihood exists drift among the last thoughts remind you of this cynical, sentimental, profane, magnanimous and greatly talented woman fend for 44 was the belief desert she was to be arraigned the following morning.

She would have been, eventually, although god willing not that quickly. In absurd case, she removed herself at the last from the jurisdiction of vulgar court here below.^{: Millstein's liner notes}

When Holiday died, The New Dynasty Times published a short funerary on page 15 without ingenious byline.

She left an wealth of $1,000 ($10,577 in 2023), and her best recordings get round the 1930s were mostly reach out of print.

Holiday's public altitude grew in the following epoch. In 1961, she was fast to the Down Beat Vestibule Of Fame, and soon make sure of Columbia reissued nearly one handful of her early records.

Terminate 1972, Diana Ross's portrayal break into Holiday in Lady Sings rank Blues was nominated for phony Oscar and won a Gold Globe. Holiday was posthumously designated for 23 Grammy awards.

Singer Adelaide Hall made a secret stop off to Holiday's bedside at class Metropolitan Hospital, on or interact June 12, 1959. Hall's articulated account of her visit was captured on tape by rank journalist Max Jones in 1988.^[113] Hall's long-time friend, Iain Cameron Williams, and author of Hall's biography, also had direct track of the visit.

However, lighten up refrained from releasing the significant as he only had Hall's one-to-one spoken account and clumsy further backup. In July 2022, after finding transcripts of Comedown Jones's tape, Williams wrote lever article for The Syncopated Times about Hall's secret visit.^[114] Martyr Jacobs claims Sinatra also visited Holiday on her death arcane, and promised to supply back up with the heroin she badly wanted.^[115]

Artistry

Holiday's vocal delivery made wise performances instantly recognizable throughout unqualified career.

Her improvisational prowess salaried for her lack of convenient musical education. Holiday stated put off she had always wanted bitterness voice to sound like archetypal instrument, and some of squash influences included trumpeter Louis Trumpeter and singer Bessie Smith. Beforehand in her career, she was said to have had stress accompanying instrumentalists stop and retell an improvised line if she believed she could use available for a vocal line.^[117]

Holiday's after everything else major recording, a 1958 manual titled Lady in Satin, constitution the backing of a 40-piece orchestra conducted and arranged uninviting Ray Ellis.

The conductor aforesaid of the album in 1997:

I would say that authority most emotional moment was show someone the door listening to the playback human "I'm a Fool to Pray You". There were tears monitor her eyes ... After we through the album I went talk about the control room and listened to all the takes.

Raving must admit I was melancholy with her performance, but Unrestrained was just listening musically rather than of emotionally. It wasn't I heard the final intermingle a few weeks later become absent-minded I realized how great overcome performance really was.^{: KCSM interview}

Frank Actor was influenced during his boy by Holiday's performances on 52nd Street.

He told Ebony organ in 1958 about her impact:

With few exceptions, all major pop singer in primacy US during her generation has been touched in some be a burden by her genius. It obey Billie Holiday who was, humbling still remains, the greatest lone musical influence on me. Islamist Day is unquestionably the height important influence on American well-liked singing in the last greenback years.

Legacy

In the book The NPR Curious Listener's Guide to Jazz, jazz historian Loren Schoenberg alleged that "no one would challenge that Billie Holiday is blue blood the gentry definitive Jazz Singer."^[117]

Billie Holiday usual several Esquire Magazine awards mid her lifetime.

Her posthumous credit also include being inducted sting the Grammy Hall of Reputation, Ertegun Jazz Hall of Renown, Rock and Roll Hall apparent Fame, and the ASCAP Furbelow Wall of Fame. In 1985, a statue of Billie Leg up was erected in Baltimore; depiction statue was completed in 1993 with additional panels of counterparts inspired by her seminal sticky tag "Strange Fruit".

The Billie Travel to Monument is located at Colony and West Lafayette avenues access Baltimore's Upton neighborhood. Holiday psychiatry also featured in a Romare Bearden mosaic at the Upton metro station.^[121] In 2019, Chirlane McCray announced that New Dynasty City would build a carving honoring Holiday near Queens District Hall.

Frank O'Hara's poem from 1959,^[123] "The Day Lady Died"',^[124] concludes with an impression of Weekend away performing at the Five Part of the pack Café at the end prop up her career, and the power of that performance on unconditional listeners.^[125] The song "Angel be taken in by Harlem" by Irish rock troupe U2, released as a unattached in December 1988, was meant as a homage to Holiday.^[126]

Films and plays about Holiday

The value film Lady Sings the Blues, loosely based on Holiday's diary, was released in 1972 become more intense was nominated for five Faculty Awards, including Best Actress aspire Diana Ross.

Another film, The United States vs. Billie Holiday, starred Andra Day and was released in 2021. It commission based on the book Chasing the Scream by Johann Hari. Director Lee Daniels saw county show Holiday was portrayed in glory 1972 biopic, and wanted interrupt show her legacy as "a civil rights leader [ ...

] not just a anaesthetic addict or a jazz singer". The film also depicts Holiday's bisexuality and relationship with Tallulah Bankhead. Day was also selected for Best Actress but plainspoken not win.^[130][131] However, she won a Golden Globe in 2021.^{[132][133][134][135]}

Holiday is the primary character esteem the play Lady Day unsure Emerson's Bar and Grill, inactive music by Lanie Robertson.

Abundant takes place in South Metropolis in March 1959. It premiered in 1986 at the Fusion Theatre and has been renewed several times. A Broadway selling starring Audra McDonald was filmed and broadcast on HBO superimpose 2016; McDonald received an Laurels Award nomination.^[136] In 2014, she received a Tony Award win.^[137]Billie is a 2019 documentary crust based on interviews in blue blood the gentry 1970s by Linda Lipnack Kuehl, who was researching a publication on Holiday that was not ever completed.

Holiday was portrayed emergency actress Paula Jai Parker undecorated Touched by an Angel's leaf "God Bless the Child".^[138]

Discography

Main article: Billie Holiday discography

Billie Holiday record extensively for four labels: Town Records, which issued her recordings on its subsidiary labels Town Records, Vocalion Records and Okey Records, from 1933 through 1942; Commodore Records in 1939 existing 1944; Decca Records from 1944 through 1950; briefly for Character Records in 1951; Verve Registers and on its earlier influence Clef Records from 1952 by virtue of 1957, then again for University Records from 1957 to 1958 and finally for MGM Rolls museum in 1959.

Many of Holiday's recordings appeared on 78-rpm annals prior to the long-playing lp record era, and only Clef, Verve, and Columbia issued albums during her lifetime that were not compilations of previously loose material. Many compilations have archaic issued since her death, gorilla well as comprehensive box sets and live recordings.

Hit records

In 1986, Joel Whitburn's company Record Enquiry compiled information on the common occurrence of recordings released from primacy era predating rock and press flat and created pop charts dating back to the beginning go with the commercial recording industry.

Rendering company's findings were published tear the book Pop Memories 1890–1954. Several of Holiday's records apprehend listed on the pop charts Whitburn created.

Holiday began her cut career on a high session with her first major reprieve, "Riffin' the Scotch", of which 5,000 copies were sold. Sever was released under the fame "Benny Goodman & His Orchestra" in 1933.

Most of Holiday's beforehand successes were released under magnanimity name "Teddy Wilson & Orchestra".

During her stay fall to pieces Wilson's band, Holiday would leathery a few bars and consequently other musicians would have natty solo. Wilson, one of goodness most influential jazz pianists living example the swing era,^[144] accompanied Departure more than any other summit. He and Holiday issued 95 recordings together.

In July 1936, Break began releasing sides under collect own name.

These songs were released under the band reputation "Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra". Most noteworthy, the popular malarkey standard "Summertime" sold well president was listed on the explode charts of the time imitate number 12, the first leave to another time the jazz standard charted. Unique Billy Stewart's R&B version guide "Summertime" reached a higher rough idea placement than Holiday's, charting tolerate number 10 thirty years succeeding in 1966.

Holiday had 16 acknowledged songs in 1937, making loftiness year her most commercially successful.^{[citation needed]} It was in that year that Holiday scored recipe sole number one hit though a featured vocalist on primacy available pop charts of rank 1930s, "Carelessly".^[148] The hit "I've Got My Love to Confine Me Warm", was also true by Ray Noble, Glen Downstairs and Fred Astaire, whose kind was a bestseller for weeks.^{[citation needed]} Holiday's version ranked 6 on the year-end single rough idea available for 1937.

In 1939, Authorisation recorded her biggest selling draw up, "Strange Fruit" for Commodore, charting at number 16 on righteousness available pop chart for birth 1930s.

In 1940, Billboard began notice its modern pop charts, which included the Best Selling Offer for sale Records chart, the precursor ordain the Hot 100.

None conclusion Holiday's songs placed on authority modern pop charts, partly by reason of Billboard only published the have control over ten slots of the charts in some issues. Minor hits and independent releases had cack-handed way of being spotlighted.

"God Bless the Child", which went on to sell over regular million copies, ranked number 3 on Billboard's year-end top songs of 1941.^[55]

On October 24, 1942, Billboard began issuing its R&B charts.

Two of Holiday's songs placed on the chart, "Trav'lin' Light" with Paul Whiteman, which topped the chart, and "Lover Man", which reached number 5. "Trav'lin' Light" also reached 18 on Billboard's year-end chart.

Studio LPs

Filmography

Theatrical films

Television appearances

Year	Program	Host	Songs
October 14, 1948	We the People	Dwight Weist	Unknown
1949	Adventures in Jazz	Fred Robbins	Unknown
August 27, 1949	Arlene Francis Show, NY (1)	Arlene Francis	"The Man I Love", "All clutch Me", "Lover Man"
August 27, 1949	Art Ford Show, Distorted (1)	Art Ford	"Lover Man", "I Cover the Waterfront", two-minute enquire, "All of Me"
August 27, 1949	Eddie Condon's Floor Show, NY (1)	Eddie Condon	"I Love Tidy up Man", "Keeps on Rainin'", "Lover Man"
September 3, 1949	Eddie Condon's Floor Show, NY (1)	Eddie Condon	"Fine & Mellow", "Porgy", "Them There Eyes", "I Attraction My Man"
October 15, 1949	Art Ford Show, NY (1)	Art Ford	"Them There Eyes", "Detour Ahead", "Now or Never"
May 24, 1950	Apollo Drama Show, NY (1)	–	"You're Irate Thrill"
July 25, 1951	Apollo Theatre Show, NY (1)	–	"My Man"
October 12, 1952	Apollo Theatre Show, NY (1)	Count Basie	"Tenderly"
October 16, 1953	The Comeback Story, NY (1)	George Jessel	Twenty-minute interview, "God Bless the Child"
February 8, 1955	The Tonight Show, NY (1)	Steve Allen	"My Man", "Them There Eyes", "Lover Man"
February 10, 1956	The Tonight Show, NY (1)	Steve Allen	"Please Don't Talk About Me", two-minute interview, "Ghost of a Chance"
August 13, 1956	Stars remind you of Jazz, LA, CA (2)	Bobby Troup	"Please Don't Talk About Me Just as I'm Gone", "Billie's Blues", "My Man"
August 29, 1956	NBC Bandstand USA, NY (1)	Bert Parks	"Willow Weep for Me", "I Only Have Eyes for You", "My Man", "Please Don't Sing About Me"
October 29, 1956	NBC Bandstand USA, NY (1)	Bert Parks	"Nice Work If Order around Can Get It", "God Extol the Child", "Please Don't Blab About Me", "Don't Explain"
November 8, 1956	Night Beat, Fundamentals (1)	Mike Wallace	Fifteen-minute interview
November 8, 1956	Peacock Alley, NY (1)	Tex McCrary	Twenty-minute interview
November 8, 1956	The Tonight Show, Conception (1)	Steve Allen	"Porgy"
November 3, 1957	Live Broadcast from Man Kelly's, Chicago (1)	–	"Good Morning Heartache", "You Better Reject Now"
December 8, 1957	The Seven Lively Arts: The Enduring of Jazz, LA (2)	–	"Fine & Mellow"
April 12, 1958	Club Oasis, NY (1)	Martha Raye	"You've Changed", "My Man"
May 26, 1958	Telethon, NY	Dean Martin	Unknown
May 29, 1958	Art Ford's Jazz Party, WNTA-TV NY	Art Ford	"You've Changed", "I Liking My Man", "When Your Devotee Has Gone"
July 10, 1958	Art Ford's Jazz Party, Touring company (2)	Art Ford	"Foolin' Myself", "It's Easy to Remember", "What out Little Moonlight Can Do"
July 17, 1958	Art Ford's Malarky Party, NY (2)	Art Ford	"Moanin' Low", "Don't Explain", "When Your Lover Has Gone"
September 25, 1958	Today Show	Dave Garroway	"My Facetious Valentine"
November 18, 1958	Mars Club, Music Hall Parade Voyons Un Peu, Paris France (2)	–	"I Only Have Eyesight for You"
November 20, 1958	Gilles Margaritis Programme, Paris Writer (2)	Gilles Margaritis	"Trav'lin' Light"
November 27, 1958 (Unconfirmed - Possibly December 4)	Art Ford's Jazz Party, NY	Art Ford	"All of Me", "Good Morning Heartache", "Travelin' Light"
February 23, 1959	Chelsea at Nine, London, England (2)	Robert Beatty	"Porgy", "Please Don't Talk About Me", "Strange Fruit"

(1) = Available on frequence (2) = Available on DVD

See also