Billie Holiday

I'd like to meet:

Eleanor Fagan - 1917Date of Birth: 7 April 1915, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USADate of Death: 17 July 1959, New York, New York, USA. (effects of heroin addiction)Birth Name: Elinore Harris;Nickname: Lady DayTrade Mark:Gardenia flower in her hairShe died with 70 cents in the bank and $750 strapped to her leg -- a reminder of her life-long fear of poverty.In 1959, narcotic addiction was a crime, not an illness. She was arrested on her deathbed.She died with 70 cents in the bank and $750 strapped to her leg -- a reminder of her life-long fear of poverty.In 1959, narcotic addiction was a crime, not an illness. She was arrested on her deathbed.Billie had no cabaret card and this kept her from working in New York City clubs for the last 12 years of her life.Her given name was Eleanora (originally Elinore) -- "Billie" came from silent screen star Billie Dove.Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1979.Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 (under the category Early Influence).Posthumously inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for "God Bless The Child" (1976), "Strange Fruit" (1978), "Lover Man" (1989), and "Lady In Satin" (2000)Made her recording debut on "Your Mother's Son-In-Law" (1933) with Benny Goodman.Was the common-law wife of trumpeter Joe Guy (1951-1957), but they always identified themselves to people as husband and wife. She was separated from her last husband, Louis McKay, at the time of her death.Her grandfather was one of 17 children born to a black Virginia slave and her white Irish master.At the time of her birth, her mother, Sarah Harris, was 18. Her father, Clarence Holiday, was 16. It's uncertain if they ever married. Clarence abandoned Sadie when Billie was an infant.Ranked #6 on VH1's 100 Greatest Women of Rock N RollCousin of former boxing champion turned minister Henry Armstrong.Scrubbed floors in a brothel and tried to become a dancer before an audition pianist asked if she could sing.Was raped at ten years old.Her vocal range spanned a ninth - just over one octave.Is portrayed by Diana Ross in Lady Sings the Blues (1972)Holiday's 1941 recording of "Gloomy Sunday" became connected with suicides around the world and her version was banned by the BBC from airplay until 2002.