Billie Holiday age, family, died, husnamd, kids

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<h2>Early Life and Background</h2>

<p>Billie Holiday, born <a href="/biography/billie-holiday">Eleanora Fagan</a> on April 7, 1915, was an influential <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Americans">African-American</a> jazz singer whose emotive voice and unique phrasing left a lasting impact on music history. She endured a difficult childhood, growing up in poverty and sharing various odd jobs with her mother, including a period of employment in a brothel. At age 9, she was charged with truancy and sent to a juvenile facility; by age 11, she had left school entirely.</p>

<p>Holiday was drawn to music at a young age. She found inspiration from jazz legends such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Armstrong">Louis Armstrong</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bessie_Smith">Bessie Smith</a>, which fueled her passion to perform. As a teenager, she began singing in Harlem nightclubs under the stage name Billie Holiday—a tribute to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Dove">silent film star</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Dove">Billie Dove</a> and her <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_Holiday">father</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_Holiday">jazz guitarist</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_Holiday">Clarence Holiday</a> (also spelled Halliday).</p>

<h2>Career and Musical Legacy</h2>

<p>Billie Holiday’s jazz career spanned more than three decades, during which she earned the <a href="/biography/billie-holiday">nickname</a> "<a href="/biography/billie-holiday">Lady Day</a>" from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lester_Young">saxophonist</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lester_Young">Lester Young</a>. Known for her emotionally charged and distinctive vocal style, Holiday stood out in the jazz and swing scenes of the 1930s and 1940s. She recorded numerous iconic songs, including “Strange Fruit,” “God Bless the Child,” and “Lover Man.”</p>

<p>She released twelve studio LPs throughout her career across four different record labels. Holiday's contributions to jazz music were widely recognized both during her lifetime and posthumously. She was known not only for her musical talent but also for breaking barriers in a segregated America.</p>

<h2>Autobiography and Cultural Recognition</h2>

<p>In 1956, Holiday published her autobiography titled <em>Lady Sings the Blues</em>, co-written with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Dufty">William Dufty</a>. The book candidly explored her struggles with addiction, racism, and personal relationships, offering a rare and deeply personal look into the life of a Black female artist navigating an often-hostile industry.</p>

<p>A biographical film, also titled <em>Lady Sings the Blues</em>, was released in 1972, featuring <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_Ross">singer</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_Ross">Diana Ross</a> in the role of Holiday. The film was both a critical and commercial success, earning multiple Academy Award nominations and winning a Golden Globe for Ross’s performance.</p>

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<h2>Struggles and Death</h2>

<p>Billie Holiday struggled with substance addiction for much of her adult life, which led to several arrests on drug-related charges. Her battles with addiction took a toll on her health and career. She also faced systemic racism, both as a performer and as an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Americans">African-American</a> woman, particularly during the Jim Crow era.</p>

<p>On July 17, 1959, Holiday died at the age of 44 in Metropolitan Hospital, New York City. The official cause of death was heart failure brought on by cirrhosis of the liver. Despite her personal struggles and untimely death, her influence on jazz and American music remains profound.</p>

<h2>Posthumous Honors and Influence</h2>

<p>Following her death, Billie Holiday received numerous accolades recognizing her contributions to music. She was posthumously awarded four Grammy Awards (not 23 as sometimes erroneously reported) and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Her legacy was further honored with inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the ASCAP Jazz Wall of Fame. Holiday continues to be celebrated as one of the most powerful voices in American jazz history.</p>

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