Musician Life

Approximately 1930 she had begun to sing local clubs and this is where she come up with her alter ego “Billie” after an actress (“Billie Holiday”).  Billie was known for her distinctive phrasing and melancholic voice that she began to perform with many artist in 1935.  Also, in 1935 she collaborated with Duke Ellington in a film symphony in black (“Billie Holiday”). The use of billies "Big ears" made her different than any other artist.

In 1940 Billie began to abusing hard drugs which turned her life around for the worse. In 1941 Billie married her trombonist Jimmy Monroe and she became involved with a man name Joe guy who was her drug dealer (“Billie Holiday”). In the late 1940’s she made a single “crazy he calls me “was induced in the hall of fame in 2010 (“Billie Holiday”). The above album was known as one of most successful hits and recordings. Many of her songs were not on the radio more than likely because of her reputation (“Billie Holiday Bio | Billie Holiday Career.”).

By the 1950’s Holidays life started going downhill she began to abuse drugs frequently, drinking and being in relationships with abusive men caused her health to deteriorate over time (“Billie Holiday”). Billie appeared on a reality series to discuss her misfortunes in attempt to overcome them.  In Billie’s later recordings you could tell her voice was deteriorating from the abuse of drugs as her voice began to grow coarse and no longer projected its former volume (“Billie Holiday”). In 1957 Holiday married a man name Louis McKay, a mafia enforcer (“Billie Holiday”). Just like the many men that Billie was involved in during the past this seemed to be a thing that Billie was attracted to. Was it her past that made her attracted to these guys or was she genuinely into “bad” guys.