Lady Day – Billie Holiday

She came into this world as Eleanora Fagan. She became Billie Holiday when she started singing in various clubs in Harlem, New York City. She was nicknamed “Lady Day” by her friend and musical partner Lester Young. She was a popular American jazz singer, songwriter and actress. Tragically Holiday died at the young age of 44 due to liver and heart problems on July 17, 1959.

While she was singing for Count Basie and his big band she had a hit with “Summertime” in 1936.

Her biggest selling record became “Strange Fruit” in 1939

Other popular songs by Billie Holiday include

 

“Embraceable You”

“Crazy He Calls Me”

 

In 1956 Billie Holiday came out with one of her best albums Lady Sings the Blues. This album included songs like

“Lady Sings the Blues”

 

“Two Marvelous for Words”

“Willow Weep for Me”