Eleanora Fagan Gough, better known as Billie Holiday was born on April 7, 1915 in Philadelphia. Her mother Sadie Fagan was only thirteen years old when she was born and her father, Clarence Holiday, who was fifteen at the time, was a jazz guitarist and bassist. When Billie was very young, her father abandoned her, and her mother often left her with relatives who did not have a very good reputation. At the age of ten, she was sent to a Catholic school after admitting that she had been abused, but in 1927, mother and daughter left for New Jersey, where Billie began to work as a prostitute.
By 1930 she was singing in some clubs in New York, until thanks to Benny Goodman -jazz bandleader- and John Hammond -music producer- she had her commercial debut with the song Your mother's son in law. From then on, she performed several shows and even sang with excellent artists, becoming one of the black jazz singers with the greatest reputation. In 1939 she published her song Strange Fruit against lynching. This song gave her an important place not only in music, but also in the history of the United States.
However, all that glitters is not gold as she struggled all her life with drugs and many claim that her hits and her voice were ruined due to her growing dependence. She even served eight months in prison for narcotics possession. She was at that time revoked her permission to work in New York clubs and later she was the victim of a swindle that left her practically broke. In 1959, she checked herself into a hospital due to several health problems and was sentenced to house arrest, since at that time narcotics addiction was a crime. She died at the age of 44 of cirrhosis on July 17, 1959.
Andra Day will play the role of this spectacular and controversial singer in the film The United States vs. Billie Holiday, directed by Lee Daniels. Although there is not yet a confirmed date for the movie's release in Latin America, more news are expected soon as it is likely to be a title that will give plenty to talk about in relation to the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes.
Long live jazz!
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