Billie Holiday:1915-1959. Billie Holiday will always be admired for her ability to communicate the underlying tragedy of life in a song. Her gift for getting to the heart of a lyric and making it her own put her at the forefront of jazz singers. What she lacked in virtuosity she more than made up for in style, conveying honesty and emotional depth, forever changing the way vocalists interpreted a song. Unique phrasing, timing, and soulful diction all contributed to her artistry . Billie worked with many of the finest sidemen in jazz and her recordings with Lester Young represent the cream of jazz vocal/instrument interplay.

For complete biographies visit our Community Page.