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Billie Holiday

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Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz and swing music singer. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner, Lester Young, Holiday made significant contributions to jazz music and pop singing. Her vocal style, strongly influenced by jazz instrumentalists, inspired a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo. Holiday was known for her vocal delivery and improvisational skills. After a turbulent childhood, Holiday began singing in nightclubs in Harlem where she was heard by producer John Hammond, who liked her voice. Holiday signed a recording contract with Brunswick in 1935. Her collaboration with Teddy Wilson produced the hit "What a Little Moonlight Can Do", which became a jazz standard. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Holiday had mainstream success on labels such as Columbia and Decca. However, by the late 1940s, she was beset with legal troubles and drug abuse. After a short prison sentence, Holiday performed a sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall. She was a successful concert performer throughout the 1950s, with two further sold-out shows at Carnegie Hall. Because of personal struggles and an altered voice, Holiday's final recordings were met with mixed reaction, but were mild commercial successes. Her final album, Lady in Satin, was released in 1958. Holiday died of cirrhosis and heart failure on July 17, 1959, at age 44. Holiday won four Grammy Awards, all of them posthumously, for Best Historical Album. She was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame. In 2000, Holiday was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an early influence; their website states that "Billie Holiday changed jazz forever". She was named one of the 50 Great Voices by NPR and was ranked fourth on the Rolling Stone list of "200 Greatest Singers of All Time" (2023). Several films about Holiday's life have been released, most recently The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021).

Infobox

Born
Eleanora Fagan(1915-04-07)April 7, 1915Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died
July 17, 1959(1959-07-17) (aged 44)New York City, U.S.
Resting place
Saint Raymond's Cemetery
Other names
Lady Day
Occupation
Singer
Years active
c. 1930–1959
Spouses
mw- Jimmy Monroe (m. 1941; div. 1947) Joe Guy (m. 1951; div. 1957) Louis McKay (m. 1957)
Father
Clarence Halliday
Genres
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Works
Billie Holiday discography
Labels
BrunswickVocalionOkehBluebirdCommodoreCapitolDeccaAladdinVerveColumbiaMGM
Website
billieholiday.com

Tables

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

References

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