Billie+Holiday+group+1

=Billie Holiday (1915-1959)=

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Overview
Originally named Eleanora Fagan, she was born in Baltimore by her mother Sadie Fagan, and father Clarence Holiday. She had a rough childhood, her father left her and her mother when she was young. As a child you could find Billie skipping school and later on, working in a prostitution home.The star started her singing career in local clubs, and named herself "Billie" after movie star Billie Dove. At18, Holiday was singing in a Harlem jazz club, and was discovered by producer John Hammond. From there, she started making her first tracks with instrumentalist Benny Goodman. Her first commercial release was a song titled "Your Mother's Son-in-Law".

==Main Point== In 1935, Holiday started recording with pianist Teddy Wilson. Several singles produced were "Miss Brown to You" and "What a Little Moonlight Can Do". Also in 1935, she appeared in film //Symphony in Black// with Duke Ellington. 'Lady Day' was a nickname saxophonist Lester young gave her in 1937, which is the same year she joined his band.Also in 1937, she became one of the first African Americans to work with a white orchestra. Around the same time she debuted two of her most famous songs, "Strange Fruit" and "God Bless this Child". Holiday was very influential and created many hit songs.

= Conclusion/ Historical Significance = Holiday's music was very influential, with its own style and ring to it. Along the way, she drank heavily and started abusing drugs. In 1947 she was arrested for possession of narcotics. This took a toll on her career for awhile. In the year 1959, Holiday was admitted to the hospital for heart problems. During her stay, she was arrested for possession of heroin. On July 17, 1959, Lady Day passed away from alcohol and drug related problems. In 2000, Billie Holiday was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. = =

Newspaper Articles
==== Spokane Daily Chronicle

Music
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References (2009-10.1.2.G)
