Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday, also known as “Lady Day” was born Eleanora Fagan on April 7, 1915, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Holiday spent much of her childhood in Baltimore, Maryland. She got her start singing with the Benny Goodman Orchestra, and went on to sing with Duke Ellington, the Count Basie Orchestra, and many more. She is considered one of the best jazz vocalists of all time and had a thriving career as a jazz singer for many years before she lost her battle with substance abuse. Holiday died on July 17, 1959 at the age of 44 from alcohol- and drug-related complications. Her autobiography Lady Sings the Blues was made into the 1972 film of the same name. Holiday was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. [Read more].