Billie Holiday

    Eleanora Fagan Gough Holiday, or as we have known her for, Billie Holiday, was one of the most famous jazz vocalists in the United States. During the 1940s, she reached the high and low points of her career.

    With a haunting past of her own, Billie Holiday’s voice grew stronger as more challenges were thrown at her. Her well known songs included “God Bless the Child”, “Don’t Explain”, “Them There Eyes” and of course the best of all, “Lover Man”. Being an African American herself, Billie Holiday’s success had led to changes on people's view on African Americans. Unfortunately, her heroin addiction had led to the downhill of her career. Spending much time during the 1947 and 1950's in jail from narcotic charges, her powerful voice endured the most damage from her addiction.

    Though Billie Holiday’s life was not a Cinderella story, her short 44 years of living represented more than just a fairy tale. It gave many African American singers hope to succeed.