Holiday Family History & Genealogy

Eleanora Fagan (April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959), professionally known as Billie Holiday, was an American jazz musician and singer-songwriter with a career spanning nearly thirty years. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz music and pop singing. Her vocal style, strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists, pioneered a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo. She was known for her vocal delivery and improvisational skills, which made up for her limited range and lack of formal music education. There were other jazz singers with comparable talent, but Holiday had a voice that captured the attention of her audience.[2] After a turbulent childhood, Holiday began singing in nightclubs in Harlem, where she was heard by the producer John Hammond, who commended her voice. She signed a recording contract with Brunswick Records in 1935. Collaborations with Teddy Wilson yielded the hit "What a Little Moonlight Can Do", which became a jazz standard. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Holiday had mainstream success on labels such as Columbia Records and Decca Records. By the late 1940s, however, she was beset with legal troubles and drug abuse. After a short prison sentence, she performed a sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall, but her reputation deteriorated because of her drug and alcohol problems. Though she was a successful concert performer throughout the 1950s with two further sold-out shows at Carnegie Hall, Holiday's bad health, coupled with a string of abusive relationships and ongoing drug and alcohol abuse, caused her voice to wither. Her final recordings were met with mixed reaction to her damaged voice but were mild commercial successes. Her final album, Lady in Satin, was released in 1958. Holiday died of cirrhosis of the liver on July 17, 1959. A posthumous album, Last Recording, was released following her death. Much of Holiday's material has been rereleased since her death. She is considered a legendary performer with an ongoing influence on American music. She is the recipient of four Grammy awards, all of them posthumous awards for Best Historical Album. Holiday herself was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1973. Lady Sings the Blues, a film about her life, starring Diana Ross, was released in 1972. She is the primary character in the play and later the film Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill; the role was originated by Reenie Upchurch in 1986 and was played by Audra McDonald on Broadway (she received a Tony Award for her performance) and in the film. Eleanora Fagan, professionally known as Billie Holiday, was an American jazz musician and singer-songwriter with a career spanning nearly thirty years. Wikipedia Born: April 7, 1915, Philadelphia, PA Died: July 17, 1959, New York City, NY Movies: Lady Sings the Blues, New Orleans, I Hired a Contract Killer, Panic in the Streets, Strange Fruit

Diana Mae Holiday was born to Howard D Kilgore and Anna Lee Jones, and has siblings Daniel "Danny" Kilgore, William "Bill" Kilgore, and Linda Ann Leckner. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Diana Mae Holiday.

Alice (Holiday) Bryant of Geelong Australia. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Alice Holiday Bryant.

Doris Gagnon Guay Aka Joy Holiday was born to Joseph Gagnon and Jeanette M. Lafargue, and has siblings Conrad Ovila Gagnon, Theresa Gagnon Vigue, and Beatrice Gagnon Roy. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Doris Gagnon Guay Aka Joy Holiday.

Andre Wayne Holiday of Navasota, Grimes County, Texas was born on July 5, 1967 in Anderson. He was the parent of Tre`vion Blackshear. He was the parent of Tevin Blackshear. He married Carolyn Holiday, and they had children Louis Blackshear, Edna Blackshear, and Errica Holiday. Andre Holiday died at age 41 years old on September 5, 2008 at College Station Medical Center 1604 Rock Prairie Rd, in College Station, Brazos County, and was buried on September 12, 2008 at Jones Funeral Home 1220 S La Salle St, in Navasota.

Andre W Holiday of Grimes County, TX was born circa 1968. Andre Holiday was married to Carolyn E. (Blackshear) Holiday on March 11, 1989 in Grimes County, TX. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Andre W. Holiday.

Errica Holiday was born to Andre Wayne Holiday and Carolyn Holiday, and has siblings Louis Blackshear and Edna Blackshear. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Errica Holiday.

Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Carolyn Holiday.

Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Fanny Holiday.

Mary Mary (Holiday) Boch of Seymour Australia, was married to Henry Boch, and has a child Louisa Heywood. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Mary Holiday .

Maude L Holiday of Fresno, Fresno County, CA was born on March 28, 1881, and died at age 85 years old on May 15, 1966.

Emily A Holiday of Broomfield, Broomfield County, CO was born on December 2, 1937, and died at age 68 years old on August 16, 2006.

Joy Holiday was born on April 14, 1939, and died at age 59 years old on November 13, 1998.

Roland H Holiday of Bronx, Bronx County, NY was born on July 5, 1924, and died at age 66 years old on September 3, 1990.

William E Holiday of Hanford, Kings County, CA was born on August 30, 1912, and died at age 89 years old on November 2, 2001.

Waide Holiday of Brinkley, Monroe County, Arkansas was born on February 6, 1903, and died at age 80 years old in May 1983.

Clifford D Holiday of Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas was born on December 20, 1919, and died at age 91 years old on March 11, 2011.

Helen Holiday of Boston, Suffolk County, MA was born on October 26, 1895, and died at age 90 years old in March 1986.

Robert Holiday was born on December 17, 1960, and died on February 5, 1961. Robert Holiday was buried at Long Island National Cemetery Section I Site 12372B 2040 Wellwood Avenue, in Farmingdale, Ny. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Robert Holiday.

Kiser Holiday was born on April 9, 1918, and died at age 73 years old on August 14, 1991. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Kiser Holiday.