Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan, April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz and swing vocalist whose phrasing, tone and improvisational approach reshaped vocal jazz. Known by the nickname “Lady Day,” given to her by saxophonist Lester Young, she became one of the most influential singers of the 20th century. Her style drew heavily from jazz instrumentalists, leading her to develop a distinctive way of bending rhythm and stretching phrasing that set her apart from her contemporaries. Holiday’s early life was marked by instability, but she began performing in Harlem nightclubs as a teenager. Producer John Hammond discovered her during this period and helped secure her first recording contract with Brunswick Records in 1935. Her early sessions with pianist Teddy Wilson produced several notable recordings, including “What a Little Moonlight Can Do,” which later became a jazz standard. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Holiday recorded for major labels such as Columbia and Decca, achieving widespread recognition. However, her career was increasingly affected by legal issues and struggles with addiction. After serving a brief prison sentence, she returned to the stage with a sold‑out performance at Carnegie Hall, reaffirming her status as a major concert artist. She continued to perform successfully throughout the 1950s, including two additional sold‑out Carnegie Hall appearances.
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Stormy Weather
All of me
Love Me or Leave Me (Okeh Records 1941)
Strange Fruit
Blue Moon
The Way You Look Tonight
Sophisticated Lady
All or nothing at all
You’d Better Go Now
Sugar
Ain’t Misbehavin
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