1915 – 1959

Billie Holiday

American jazz singer (1915–1959)

autobiographerjazz musicianjazz singersongwriterbandleader

Born

1915-04-07, Philadelphia

Died

1959-07-17

Birthplace state

Pennsylvania

Biography

Billie Holiday was an American jazz and swing music singer. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner, Lester Young, Holiday made significant contributions to jazz music and pop singing. Her vocal style, strongly influenced by jazz instrumentalists, inspired a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo. Holiday was known for her vocal delivery and improvisational skills.

Occupation

Billie Holiday is recorded as a autobiographer, a jazz musician, a jazz singer, a songwriter, a bandleader, a musician, a singer-songwriter, a author, a singer, a composer and a actor, born in Pennsylvania (1915–1959).

Connections to Pennsylvania

Billie Holiday was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1915. Explore other notable figures from Pennsylvania, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Pennsylvania›Pennsylvaniahistory ›Historic sites in Pennsylvania›

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The Land

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Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

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Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

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Historical Maps

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Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

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Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

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More notable figures from Pennsylvania

Other historical figures born in Pennsylvania, ranked by historical prominence.

Joe Biden

46th President of the United States (2021–2025)

Noam Chomsky

American linguist and activist (born 1928)

Andy Warhol

American artist, film director, and producer (1928–1987)

James Buchanan

president of the United States from 1857 to 1861

Grace Kelly

American actress and Princess consort of Monaco (1929–1982)

Kobe Bryant

American basketball player (1978–2020)

Louisa May Alcott

American novelist (1832–1888)

Frequently asked about Billie Holiday

Who was Billie Holiday?

Billie Holiday was American jazz singer (1915–1959), born in Pennsylvania (1915 – 1959).

When and where was Billie Holiday born?

Billie Holiday was born on 1915-04-07 in Philadelphia.

When did Billie Holiday die?

Billie died on 1959-07-17.

What was Billie Holiday known for?

Billie Holiday is recorded as a autobiographer, a jazz musician, a jazz singer, a songwriter, a bandleader, a musician, a singer-songwriter, a author, a singer, a composer and a actor.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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