Billie Holiday

Biography

Born Eleanora Fagan on April 7, 1915, Billie Holiday rose to fame as a jazz singer, earning the nickname "Lady Day" from her friend Lester Young. Her powerful vocal style, influenced by jazz instrumentalists, manipulated phrasing and tempo, inspiring a new approach to singing. Holiday's collaborations with Teddy Wilson produced hits like "What a Little Moonlight Can Do," cementing her place in jazz history, before struggling with personal demons and ultimately performing sold-out shows at Carnegie Hall.