Why Famous:Nicknamed "Lady Day", she had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing. Her vocal style, strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists, pioneered a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo.
Born: April 7, 1915 Birthplace:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Star Sign: Aries
Died: July 17, 1959 (aged 44) Cause of Death: Complications from cirrhosis of the liver
Married Life
1941-08-25 Jazz musician Billie Holiday (26) weds trombonist Jimmy Monroe
1957-03-28 Jazz musician Billie Holiday (41) weds mafia enforcer Louis McKay
Events in the Life of Billie Holiday
1929-05-02 Billie Holiday (14) and her mother are arrested for prostitution following a raid of a brothel in Harlem
1933-11-11 Billie Holiday's second song and first hit, "Riffin' the Scotch", is released
1947-05-16 Billie Holiday is arrested in her New York apartment for possession of narcotics
1948-03-16 Billie Holiday is released from prison early because of good behaviour
1948-03-27 Just 11 days after being released from prison, Billie Holiday plays in front of a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Hall
2014-06-08Audra McDonald wins a Tony for her portrayal of Billie Holiday in "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar And Grill"
Quotes by Billie Holiday
"You've got to have something to eat and a little love in your life before you can hold still for any damn body's sermon on how to behave."
Dudley Moore
John Coltrane
Tiny Grimes
Alison Krauss
Miles Davis
Oscar Peterson