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Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz and swing music singer. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner, Lester Young, Holiday had an innovative 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.

After a turbulent childhood, Holiday began singing in nightclubs in Harlem, where she was heard by producer John Hammond, who liked her voice. She signed a recording contract with Brunswick in 1935. Collaborations with Teddy Wilson produced the hit "What a Little Moonlight Can Do", which became a jazz standard. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Holiday had mainstream success on labels such as Columbia and Decca. By the late 1940s, however, she was beset with legal troubles and drug abuse. After a short prison sentence, she performed at a sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall. She was a successful concert performer throughout the 1950s with two further sold-out shows at Carnegie Hall. Because of personal struggles and an altered voice, her final recordings were met with mixed reaction but were mild commercial successes. Her final album, Lady in Satin, was released in 1958. Holiday died of cirrhosis on July 17, 1959, at age 44.

Holiday won four Grammy Awards, all of them posthumously, for Best Historical Album. She was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame. She was also inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, though not in that genre; the website states that "Billie Holiday changed jazz forever". Several films about her life have been released, most recently The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021).

Birth and Death Data: Born April 7, 1915 (Philadelphia), Died July 17, 1959 (Metropolitan Hospital Center)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1933 - 1950

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, songwriter, lyricist, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 76-100 of 198 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick B20568 10-in. 1/25/1937 He ain't got rhythm Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B20569 10-in. 1/25/1937 This year's kisses Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B20570 10-in. 1/25/1937 Why was I born? Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B20571 10-in. 1/25/1937 I must have that man Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B20698 10-in. 2/18/1937 The mood that I'm in Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B20699 10-in. 2/18/1937 You showed me the way Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B20700 10-in. 2/18/1937 Sentimental and melancholy Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B20701 10-in. 2/18/1937 (This is) My last affair Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B20911 10-in. 3/31/1937 Carelessly Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B20912 10-in. 3/31/1937 How could you? Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B20913 10-in. 3/31/1937 Moanin' low Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B21117 10-in. 5/11/1937 Sun showers Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B21118 10-in. 5/11/1937 Yours and mine Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B21119 10-in. 5/11/1937 I'll get by Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B21120 10-in. 5/11/1937 Mean to me Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B21217 10-in. 6/01/1937 Foolin' myself Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B21218 10-in. 6/01/1937 Easy living Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B21219 10-in. 6/01/1937 I'll never be the same Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B21982 10-in. 11/01/1937 Nice work if you can get it Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B21983 10-in. 11/01/1937 Things are looking up Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B21984 10-in. 11/01/1937 My man Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B21985 10-in. 11/01/1937 Can't help lovin' dat man Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B22192 10-in. 1/06/1938 My first impression of you Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B22194 10-in. 1/06/1938 When you're smiling Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B22195 10-in. 1/06/1938 I can't believe that you're in love with me Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
(Results 76-100 of 198 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Holiday, Billie," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/102008.

Holiday, Billie. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/102008.

"Holiday, Billie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/102008

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