{"title":"Billie Holiday","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAbout Billie Holiday\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eEleanora Fagan was born in Philadelphia on April 7, 1915 and raised in Baltimore. She began performing in New York nightclubs in 1933 and was discovered by producer John Hammond. Her early Columbia recordings with Teddy Wilson's small groups (1935-1942), including collaborations with Lester Young, established her as a defining jazz vocalist of the swing era. She recorded for Decca in the mid-late 1940s, working with larger orchestras and string arrangements, before moving to Norman Granz's Clef\/Verve in 1952, where she made her final recordings. She died in New York on July 17, 1959 at age 44.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSound and style\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eHoliday's vocal style was characterized by intimate, behind-the-beat phrasing, distinctive vocal tone, and an emotional directness that transformed popular song interpretation. Her readings of standards and her recording of Strange Fruit (1939), the anti-lynching song that became a defining protest anthem, demonstrated jazz vocal performance as serious art and social commentary.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eDiscography highlights\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColumbia small-group recordings with Teddy Wilson (1935-1942)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStrange Fruit single (1939, Commodore)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDecca recordings (1944-1950, Decca)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLady Sings the Blues (1956, Clef)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLady in Satin (1958, Columbia)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFor collectors\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOriginal Columbia, Decca, and Clef\/Verve pressings of Holiday's catalog are widely collected. Multiple reissue programs (including Mosaic box sets and the Verve Acoustic Sounds Series) have issued audiophile pressings of her recordings.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhere to start\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eListeners new to Billie Holiday typically start with Lady in Satin (1958) or the Columbia compilation The Quintessential Billie Holiday. \u003cspan class=\"related-collections\"\u003eExplore more: \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/jazz-vinyl-records\"\u003eJazz\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"billie-holiday-commodore-masters-red-vinyl","title":"Commodore Masters LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eCaptured at the peak of her powers, this historic collection features the definitive recordings Billie Holiday made for the independent Commodore label between 1939 and 1944.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540782330039,"sku":"210000103972","price":23.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/4489384-3527154.jpg?v=1781154249"},{"product_id":"billie-holiday-lady-sings-the-blues-vinyl","title":"Lady Sings the Blues LP","description":"\u003cp\u003e1954 album from jazz legend, delivering a fresh sound and a penetrating presence a mere three years before the singer's death.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540846588087,"sku":"210000032366","price":27.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/2325822.jpg?v=1781154475"},{"product_id":"billie-holiday-all-or-nothing-at-all-vinyl-180g-acoustic-sounds-series","title":"All Or Nothing At All LP","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"All Or Nothing At All (Verve Acoustic Sounds Series)\" [180g LP]Recorded in five sessions over 1956\/1957 and released in 1958, this 12-track affair is loaded with the classic standards from Berlin, Ellington, Gershwin and more.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48541012983991,"sku":"210000097760","price":38.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/holiday.jpg?v=1781155083"},{"product_id":"billie-holiday-lady-sings-the-blues-180g-clear-vinyl-bonus-tracks-spain-import","title":"Lady Sings the Blues LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eExperience the timeless brilliance of Billie Holiday with the \"Lady Sings the Blues LP\", presented on 180-gram clear vinyl. This Spain import features a collection of her most poignant tracks, including classics like \"Strange Fruit\" and \"God Bless the Child\", alongside an exclusive bonus track. Perfect for jazz aficionados, this edition prioritizes Billie's unparalleled vocal performance, making it a striking addition to any vinyl collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785946607799,"sku":"210000102983","price":24.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/4462113-3502703.jpg?v=1783046362"},{"product_id":"billie-holiday-lady-in-satin-vinyl","title":"Lady in Satin LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eExperience the soulful artistry of Billie Holiday with her poignant 1958 album, Lady in Satin. This LP, released under Sony Legacy, presents a lush orchestral backdrop, marking a departure from her earlier jazz combo settings, reminiscent of the Great American Songbook. Tracks like \"I'm a Fool to Want You\" and \"You've Changed\" showcase her timeless voice against exquisite arrangements by Ray Ellis, making this a vital addition to any jazz enthusiast's collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48860462547127,"sku":"210000034962","price":24.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/2854966.jpg?v=1783653903"},{"product_id":"billie-holiday-stay-with-me-lp-color-vinyl-uk-import","title":"Stay with Me LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eBillie Holiday's \"Stay with Me LP\" is a UK import on color vinyl. This album features her expressive take on jazz standards, recorded during a pivotal time in her career. It reflects both her vocal prowess and the personal themes that resonate throughout her music.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48906080780471,"sku":"210000092782","price":20.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/4351159-3321965.jpg?v=1784558659"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.waxtraxrecords.com\/collections\/billie-holiday.oembed","provider":"Wax Trax Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}