Billie Holiday Trivia

Trivia

  • A statue of Holiday still stands today at the corner of Lafayette and Pennsylvania Avenues in Baltimore.
    (cmgww.com)
    Posted by Super Star Editor miss-sunshin
  • She was discovered by John Hammond
    (cmgww.com)
    Posted by Super Star Editor miss-sunshin
  • Her early band was organized by pianist Teddy Wilson.
    (cmgww.com)
    Posted by Super Star Editor miss-sunshin
  • On September 18, 1994, the United States Postal Service honored Holiday by introducing a USPS-sponsored stamp.
    (cmgww.com)
    Posted by Super Star Editor miss-sunshin
  • The U2 song Angel of Harlem paid tribute to Holiday.
    (cmgww.com)
    Posted by Super Star Editor miss-sunshin
  • 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.
    (imdb.com)
    Posted by Editor wdwdemo
  • Her grandfather was one of 17 children born to a black Virginia slave and her white Irish master.
    (imdb.com)
    Posted by Editor wdwdemo
  • Made her recording debut on "Your Mother's Son-In-Law" (1933) with Benny Goodman.
    (imdb.com)
    Posted by Editor wdwdemo
  • 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)
    (imdb.com)
    Posted by Editor wdwdemo
  • The 1959 "Chelsea at Nine" British television appearance was recorded on one of the earliest existences of videotape, and survives to this day. Ironically, it was Ms. Holiday's last appearance before her death.
    (imdb.com)
    Posted by Editor wdwdemo
  • 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.
    (imdb.com)
    Posted by Editor wdwdemo
  • Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1979.
    (imdb.com)
    Posted by Editor wdwdemo
  • Ranked #6 on VH1's 100 Greatest Women of Rock N Roll
    (imdb.com)
    Posted by Editor wdwdemo
  • Is portrayed by Diana Ross in Lady Sings the Blues (1972)
    (imdb.com)
    Posted by Editor wdwdemo
  • Scrubbed floors in a brothel and tried to become a dancer before an audition pianist asked if she could sing.
    (imdb.com)
    Posted by Editor wdwdemo
  • In 1959, narcotic addiction was a crime, not an illness. She was arrested on her deathbed.
    (imdb.com)
    Posted by Editor wdwdemo
  • Cousin of former boxing champion turned minister Henry Armstrong.
    (imdb.com)
    Posted by Editor wdwdemo
  • Her vocal range spanned a ninth - just over one octave.
    (imdb.com)
    Posted by Editor wdwdemo
  • Enjoyed reading comic books, including Captain Marvel, throughout her adult life.
    (imdb.com)
    Posted by Editor wdwdemo
  • She died with 70 cents in the bank and $750 strapped to her leg -- a reminder of her life-long fear of poverty.
    (imdb.com)
    Posted by Editor wdwdemo
  • Her given name was Eleanora (originally Elinore) -- "Billie" came from silent screen star Billie Dove.
    (imdb.com)
    Posted by Editor wdwdemo
  • Billie had no cabaret card and this kept her from working in New York City clubs for the last 12 years of her life.
    (imdb.com)
    Posted by Editor wdwdemo
  • At the time of her birth, her mother, Sarah Harris, was 13. Her father, Clarence Holiday, was 16. It's uncertain if they ever married. Clarence abandoned Sadie when Billie was an infant.
    (imdb.com)
    Posted by Editor wdwdemo
  • Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 (under the category Early Influence).
    (imdb.com)
    Posted by Editor wdwdemo
  • Was raped at ten years old.
    (imdb.com)
    Posted by Editor wdwdemo
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