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Billie Holiday Billie Holiday, born Eleanora Fagan on April 7, 1915, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was one of the most influential jazz singers of all time. Known for her unique voice, emotive delivery, and deeply personal interpretations of songs, Holiday's music continues to resonate with audiences around the world. Holiday's early life was marked by hardship, and she began singing in nightclubs in Harlem, New York, in the 1930s. It was during this time that she adopted the stage name Billie Holiday, inspired by actress Billie Dove and her father Clarence Holiday. Holiday's vocal style was heavily influenced by jazz instrumentalists, and she often used her voice to convey complex emotions and tell stories through her songs. Holiday's recording career began in the mid-1930s, and she quickly gained fame for her recordings with the Teddy Wilson Orchestra and later with her own groups. Her recordings of songs like "Strange Fruit," a haunting protest against racism and lynching, and "God Bless the Child," a deeply personal reflection on poverty and resilience, became classics of the jazz and blues repertoire. Holiday's voice was characterized by its distinctive timbre, its ability to convey a wide range of emotions, and its intimate, conversational style. She had a unique talent for phrasing and improvisation, often bending and stretching notes to create a sense of drama and emotion in her performances. Holiday's life was marked by struggles with addiction, poverty, and discrimination, but her music remains a testament to her resilience and artistry. She died on July 17, 1959, at the age of 44, but her legacy lives on through her recordings, which continue to inspire and move listeners around the world.