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NAME: Eleanora Fagan a.k.a. Billie Holiday
LIFETIME: April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959
WHAT SHE IS KNOWN FOR: Billie Holiday is widely considered the greatest and most expressive jazz singer of all time. She is also well known for making music with the likes of Benny Goodman and Count Basie and becoming friends with her fierce competitor, Ella Fitzgerald.
WHY WE LOVE HER: Billie Holiday had all of the odds working against her when she climbed on stage for the first time in Harlem. She had little parental influence, had been sent to reform school and was sent to prison for prostitution. Despite it all, Holiday earned the titles of “First Lady of Blues” and “Lady Day.” Her career spanned more than 30 years, with top selling records, solo shows and sold-out concerts. Holiday is known for her hits “What a Little Moonlight Can Do,” “Strange Fruit” and “God Bless the Child.” Sadly, Holiday’s career was also plagued with substance abuse and she died of cirrhosis of the liver.
FUN FACT: Billie Holiday is known for her distinct singing style and she worked hard to distinguish herself from other singers, saying, “If I’m going to sing like someone else, then I don’t need to sing at all.”
