Billie Holiday
Born Eleanora McKay née Eleonora Fagan
See Billie Holiday's own records →
American jazz singer and songwriter, born April 7, 1915, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, died July 17, 1959, New York City, New York, USA.
Daughter of jazz guitarist Clarence Holiday. Godmother of Mala Waldron and Lorraine Feather.
She made her debut circa 1930 singing in various nightclubs in Harlem. In early 1933, the producer John Hammond heard her sing and was impressed by her talent. In 1935 he signed her to Records. She made her first recordings with Benny Goodman. Also in 1935 she made her first appearance in a movie, with more roles in the 1940's. From 1939 she started recording songs with notable jazz artists of that time.
