https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Sings_the_Blues_(book)
singer, songwriter, jazz talent
Billie Holiday
Eleanora Fagan born April 7, 1915 was an American Jazz musician alongside singing and writing her own songs. To the public, she was known under the name of Billie Holiday, or “Lady Day” by her close friends.
Before Billie Holiday came to be, Eleanora was born to her parents who were merely teenagers, starting the beginning of a rocky upbringing for her. Her own father had abandoned his family to pursue his music career, and her mother worked in transportation jobs leaving her much alone. Billie Holiday talks much about this in her autobiography, which you can read more about here:
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Sofia Bellas
In 1935 Billie Holiday began recording with Teddy Wilson, after being signed to Brunswick Records. They recorded much with a current pop background incorporating jazz and swing style jukebox trades. With people in her own label doubting Holiday and expecting more, it didn't take long before her songs proved herself as an artist and gained the respect she deserved. It was only a year after this she began performing in her own name.
In 1946, Holiday starred in her one and only film entitled "New Orleans" alongside of Louis Armstrong and others, however was plagued by racism throughout filming. Holiday and Armstrong were both limited in their screen time, because the directors didn't want them to have as big of roles as they thought that would make it seem like blacks invented jazz. Dealing with this kind of racism was hard for Holiday, and led to a momentary drug issue that consumed her.