Billie Holiday Report
Devin Greenlaw
3/2/13
2nd Period
Love the Holiday
(Billie Holiday Report)
Born Eleanora Fagan on April 7, 1915 in Philadelphia, PA; the amazing jazz vocalist never imagined she was going to become one of the biggest jazz musicians of all time. Rose Primarily in Baltimore, MD with her mother, Sady Fagan, who gave birth to Billie at the age of nineteen. Billie was raised primarily with her mother. Her father, believed to be Clarence Holiday who was a successful jazz musician himself, wasn’t around often in her life. Her mother married a man by the name of Philip Gough in 1920 and for a few years, Billie had a somewhat stable home life. But the marriage ended years later, leaving Billie and Sadie to struggle once again. At times she was left under the care of others who didn’t care very much for her. Living in poverty, Holiday started skipping school at the young …show more content…
Growing up in a one parent household, Holiday didn’t have many options to choose from especially with the path she took at a young age. Desperate for the mighty dollar, the errands Billie was running for the brothel turned into running the streets of Harlem. She had convicted for prostitution but was then released back to her mother. Trying to escape the streets, Holiday searched for a job as a dancer at a Harlem speakeasy. She auditioned as a singer with her long interest in both jazz & blues. Holiday wowed the owners and found herself singing at the popular Pod & Jerry’s log cabin. Her performances were so beloved to where only about the age of 19, she got her name out and was discovered by the producer & talent scout John Hammond. Hammond quickly arranged three recording sessions for Billie and found an engagement for her in New York clubs. “I hate straight singing. I have to change a tune to my own way of doing it, that’s all I know.”
3/2/13
2nd Period
Love the Holiday
(Billie Holiday Report)
Born Eleanora Fagan on April 7, 1915 in Philadelphia, PA; the amazing jazz vocalist never imagined she was going to become one of the biggest jazz musicians of all time. Rose Primarily in Baltimore, MD with her mother, Sady Fagan, who gave birth to Billie at the age of nineteen. Billie was raised primarily with her mother. Her father, believed to be Clarence Holiday who was a successful jazz musician himself, wasn’t around often in her life. Her mother married a man by the name of Philip Gough in 1920 and for a few years, Billie had a somewhat stable home life. But the marriage ended years later, leaving Billie and Sadie to struggle once again. At times she was left under the care of others who didn’t care very much for her. Living in poverty, Holiday started skipping school at the young …show more content…
Growing up in a one parent household, Holiday didn’t have many options to choose from especially with the path she took at a young age. Desperate for the mighty dollar, the errands Billie was running for the brothel turned into running the streets of Harlem. She had convicted for prostitution but was then released back to her mother. Trying to escape the streets, Holiday searched for a job as a dancer at a Harlem speakeasy. She auditioned as a singer with her long interest in both jazz & blues. Holiday wowed the owners and found herself singing at the popular Pod & Jerry’s log cabin. Her performances were so beloved to where only about the age of 19, she got her name out and was discovered by the producer & talent scout John Hammond. Hammond quickly arranged three recording sessions for Billie and found an engagement for her in New York clubs. “I hate straight singing. I have to change a tune to my own way of doing it, that’s all I know.”