Biography

Billie Holiday, born Eleanora Fagan, was an American jazz singer with a career spanning nearly thirty years. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz music and pop singing. Her vocal style, strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists, pioneered a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo. She was known for her vocal delivery and improvisational skills. Billie Holiday appeared in four feature films and many television shows.

Known For

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Self (archive footage)

It's Black Entertainment

Self (archive footage)

The Apollo

Self (archive footage)

Artie Shaw: Time Is All You've Got

Self (archive footage)

Benny Carter: Symphony in Riffs

Self (archive footage)

Sarah Vaughan & Other Jazz Divas

Billie Holiday: The Ultimate Collection

Herself

Queens of Jazz: The Joy and Pain of the Jazz Divas

Self (archive footage)