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Billie Holiday

Apr 07, 1915 - Jul 17, 1959 (44 years old) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Billie Holiday, born Eleanora Fagan, was an American jazz singer with a career spanning nearly thirty years. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz music and pop singing. Her vocal style, strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists, pioneered a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo. She was known for her vocal delivery and improvisational skills. Billie Holiday appeared in four feature films and many television shows.

Known For

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Billie on Billie
Herself
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Billie Holiday: The Ultimate Collection
Herself
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Billie Holiday: A Sensation
herself
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Symphony in Black: A Rhapsody of Negro Life
Self - Blues Singer (uncredited)
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Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Self (archive footage)
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This Is Pop
Self (archive footage)
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Jazz
Self (archive footage)
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Jazz Voice - The Ladies sing Jazz Vol.1
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New Orleans
Endie
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Strange Fruit
Self

Credits