My Inspiration…

March is Women’s History Month. Billie Holiday’s legend and music continue to live on in the hearts and souls of most Americans.

Billie Holiday (Eleanora Fagan) was born April 7, 1915, in Philadelphia! Her music remains a legend. Wearing gardenias in her hair and singing with her head tilted back, she made beautiful and meaningful music. "God Bless the Child" is classic Lady Day. In the 1930’s she discovered the poem, “Strange Fruit.” a horrific depiction of lynching in the Southern United States. Music was written just for Billie and it became the hallmark of her concerts. It’s considered by scholars to be the first protest song of the civil rights era. The lyrics were considered so controversial that her record label wouldn’t record it. So she jumped over to the independent Commodore Records where she could record and sing as she pleased. “Strange Fruit” immediately became a cultural spark-point and a hit record too.

Billie Holiday died in 1959 at the age of 44. Her music and life continue to inspire us all.