Billie Holiday

American jazz singer and songwriter, born April 7, 1915, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, died July 17, 1959, New York City, New York, USA. Daughter of jazz guitarist Clarence Holiday. Godmother of Mala Waldron and Lorraine Feather. She made her debut circa 1930 singing in various nightclubs in Harlem. In early 1933, the producer John Hammond heard her sing and was impressed by her talent.