Billie Holiday was born Eleanora Fagan April 7, 1915 in Philadelphia, PA. For Billie, music was a part of her life and about her life. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her collaborator Lester Young, she failed an audition at Smalls Jazz Club in Harlem as a teenager because she didn't know in which key to sing. "Just pick one," she said. Her vocal style was unlike any other -- slow, sexual and improvisational. She would not sing a song the same way twice, often changing tempos.
She lived a life plagued by emotional and physical abuse and, became dependent on drugs and alcohol. She died far too young at age 44. Said Billie Holiday, "keep your mouth shut and don't talk about me when I'm gone. If you talk about me, say something nice."
Jazz 91.9 WCLK and Midday Jazz remembers Billie Holiday on her 101st birthday, and every day, where we've been playing her music since 1974. She inspires us still. You can find out more about her by clicking here.