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Billie Holiday
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Billie Holiday (Eleanora Fagan Gough, Philadelphia, April 7, 1915 – New York City, July 17, 1959) was an American jazz singer and songwriter.
Nicknamed Lady Day by her loyal friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday was 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. Above all, she was admired for her deeply personal and intimate approach to singing. Critic John Bush wrote that she “changed the art of American pop vocals forever. ” She co-wrote only a few songs, but several of them have become jazz standards, notably “God Bless the Child”, “Don’t Explain”, and “Lady Sings the Blues”. She also became famous for singing jazz standards written by others, including “Easy Living” and “Strange Fruit.”
Billie Holiday had a difficult childhood, which greatly affected her life and career. Not much is known about the true details of her early life, though stories of it appeared in her autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues, first published in 1956 and later revealed to contain many inaccuracies.
Her professional pseudonym was taken from Billie Dove, an actress she admired, and Clarence Holiday, her probable father. At the outset of her career, she spelled her last name “Halliday”, presumably to distance herself from her neglectful father, but eventually changed it back to “Holiday”.
Nicknamed Lady Day by her loyal friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday was 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. Above all, she was admired for her deeply personal and intimate approach to singing. Critic John Bush wrote that she “changed the art of American pop vocals forever. ” She co-wrote only a few songs, but several of them have become jazz standards, notably “God Bless the Child”, “Don’t Explain”, and “Lady Sings the Blues”. She also became famous for singing jazz standards written by others, including “Easy Living” and “Strange Fruit.”
Billie Holiday had a difficult childhood, which greatly affected her life and career. Not much is known about the true details of her early life, though stories of it appeared in her autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues, first published in 1956 and later revealed to contain many inaccuracies.
Her professional pseudonym was taken from Billie Dove, an actress she admired, and Clarence Holiday, her probable father. At the outset of her career, she spelled her last name “Halliday”, presumably to distance herself from her neglectful father, but eventually changed it back to “Holiday”.
Top Albums
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Solitude
Billie Holiday
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Lady Day
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All Of Me
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Don't Explain
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Top Tracks
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God Bless the Child
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Strange Fruit
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Easy Living
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What a Little Moonlight Can Do
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All of Me
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My Man
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You're My Thrill
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Blue Moon
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Solitude
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Gloomy Sunday
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I'll Be Seeing You
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The Man I Love
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Summertime
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Body and Soul
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I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm
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Shoutbox
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MbopPromotions wrote:
To download Billie Holiday classic tracks go to: http://www.mbop-promotions.co.uk/artists_day_2.asp For other classic artists go to http://www.mbop-promotions.co.uk/istores.asp
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tweeassfuck wrote:
"She was arrested for drug possession as she lay dying and her hospital room was raided by authorities." Billie Holiday: OG
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teca56nuzzo wrote:
...me sensibilizando...olhando sempre de outros olhares... sentindo os odores das palabras...ouvindo cheiros novos...
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Zeuq wrote:
love+peace
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samarheam wrote:
the story of billie, ah, ricky oh!
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optimistic_tour wrote:
oh Billie....
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Laepo wrote:
I'm a Fool to Want You
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whythe60shateus wrote:
strange fruit <3
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and_we_drown wrote:
Lady Day <3
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Ynarmousiest wrote:
Amo-a
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akyji wrote:
magic...
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ohh1972 wrote:
Her voice and her style will never be duplicated.
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igor_falc wrote:
Finest music in the world!
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babysista wrote:
I love Billie, all of Billie's music.
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ukulelel wrote:
brilliant
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EngelClaire wrote:
Einfach wundervoll!
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KicksclusiveJay wrote:
Shes like hot soup on a cold day... Simply Amazing.
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Laro20 wrote:
She's magical <3
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Candy_Kill_ wrote:
Cosmic voice ,just incredible ..<3
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goodquitegood wrote:
Her Voice Makes me feel like I'm home
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News
From The Heart Series Featuring Billie Holiday
15 Jan 2009 | from blog.myspace.com/Billie Holiday
As the icy chill of winter settles in, thoughts turn to warmer times, and the sensuous prospects of Valentine’s Day around the corner. It’s a time that has always enjoyed its own special soundtrack...
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15 Jan 2009 | from blog.myspace.com/Billie Holiday -
8 Aug 2007 | from blog.myspace.com/Billie Holiday -
8 Aug 2007 | from blog.myspace.com/Billie Holiday
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Recent Activity
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giuliasavorelli, drumilana, malaimasliku and 25 other people added Billie Holiday to their libraries. 32 minutes ago
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mariesorelle tagged Billie Holiday with blues, smooth jazz, slow and 16 other tags. yesterday evening
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NickTonetti added Billie Holiday to NickTonetti’s library. yesterday evening
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leonidisisPS tagged Billie Holiday with singer-songwriters, songwriter, ballads and 15 other tags. yesterday evening
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ChaosOfTrouble added Billie Holiday to ChaosOfTrouble’s library. yesterday evening
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A deleted user tagged Billie Holiday with ‘jazz’. yesterday evening
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pancar tagged Billie Holiday with ‘bambaska’. yesterday afternoon
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Dawnrising, tobbles123, les_pommes and 4 other people added Billie Holiday to their libraries. yesterday afternoon
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thomas10 wrote about Billie Holiday – Lady in Satin in Best Albums of the Late Fifties (1956-1959). August 2009
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New People, Old Music
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