The song's lyrics came from a poem written by Abel Meeropol, a teacher and social activist. Biographer Farah Jasmine Griffin described Young as Holiday's "creative soulmate." "Strange Fruit" was one of her biggest and most controversial hits They also recorded together on a number of different projects, including her 1957 television special The Sound of Jazz. The pair became friends in the mid-1930s and later toured together with Count Basie. The nickname was short for president of the saxophone, according to Donald Clarke's Billie Holiday: Wishing on the Moon. Holiday returned the favor, choosing to rename him "Pres" (or "Prez" depending on the source). She got the nickname 'Lady Day' from saxophonist Lester Young 5 spot on the R&B charts the following year and made it into the top 20 of the pop charts as well. Released in 1944, the song had been written for her by Jimmy Davis, Roger Ramirez and James Sherman. "Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)" proved to be Holiday's only major chart success Holiday later got a chance to work with Louis Armstrong with the two of them starring in the 1947 musical New Orleans.īillie Holiday Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Louis Armstrong was among Holiday's early influencesĪs a child, she even took a job doing chores and running errands for a local madam in exchange for a chance to play records on the madam's Victrola. I was crazy for her." Oddly enough, Dove was actually the stage name of Lillian Bohny. In her autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues, she wrote, "I don't think I missed a single picture Billie Dove ever made. The name "Billie" came from silent movie star Billie Dove, whom Holiday adored. During her childhood, she also used her stepfather's last name, Gough, after her mother married longshoreman Phil Gough for a time. That strained relationship didn't stop her from borrowing his last name when she became a performer. Holiday was born Eleanora Fagan, though some sources say the name on her birth certificate was "Elinore Harris." Her parents, Sadie Fagan and Clarence Holiday, were both teenagers when she was born, and her musician father took off when she was still a baby. Here are some facts about the life and music of the great Lady Day: She gave herself the name Billie after a silent movie star Her great talent, however, was later diminished by bad relationships and alcohol and drug abuse. Holiday even appeared in a film with Duke Ellington. She became one of jazz's great stars, performing with the likes of Count Basie and Artie Shaw. She managed to survive a difficult childhood - often left in the care of cold-hearted relatives and even spent time in a Catholic reform school before joining her mother in New York City.īefore she found fame as a singer, Holiday did whatever it took to survive, including working a prostitute for a while. Not only did she mesmerize us with her voice, but Holiday also lived a fascinating life filled with tremendous ups and downs. Born on April 7, 1915, Holiday once said, "If I'm going to sing like someone else, then I don't need to sing at all." She saw her voice as a musical instrument, as she explained in Hear Me Talkin' To Ya by Nat Shapiro and Nat Hentoff: "I feel like I am playing a horn. Jazz legend Billie Holiday poured her heart into each song, making each one her own with her distinct style.
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