Billie Holiday Trivia

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A statue of Holiday still stands today at the corner of Lafayette and Pennsylvania Avenues in Baltimore. (cmgww.com)

She was discovered by John Hammond (cmgww.com)

Her early band was organized by pianist Teddy Wilson. (cmgww.com)

On September 18, 1994, the United States Postal Service honored Holiday by introducing a USPS-sponsored stamp. (cmgww.com)

The U2 song Angel of Harlem paid tribute to Holiday. (cmgww.com)

Was the common-law wife of trumpeter Joe Guy (1951-1957), but they always identified themselves to people as husband and wife. She was separated from her last husband, Louis McKay, at the time of her death. (imdb.com)

Her grandfather was one of 17 children born to a black Virginia slave and her white Irish master. (imdb.com)

Made her recording debut on "Your Mother's Son-In-Law" (1933) with Benny Goodman. (imdb.com)

Posthumously inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for "God Bless The Child" (1976), "Strange Fruit" (1978), "Lover Man" (1989), and "Lady In Satin" (2000) (imdb.com)

The 1959 "Chelsea at Nine" British television appearance was recorded on one of the earliest existences of videotape, and survives to this day. Ironically, it was Ms. Holiday's last appearance before her death. (imdb.com)

Holiday's 1941 recording of "Gloomy Sunday" became connected with suicides around the world and her version was banned by the BBC from airplay until 2002. (imdb.com)

Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1979. (imdb.com)

Ranked #6 on VH1's 100 Greatest Women of Rock N Roll (imdb.com)

Is portrayed by Diana Ross in Lady Sings the Blues (1972) (imdb.com)

Scrubbed floors in a brothel and tried to become a dancer before an audition pianist asked if she could sing. (imdb.com)

In 1959, narcotic addiction was a crime, not an illness. She was arrested on her deathbed. (imdb.com)

Cousin of former boxing champion turned minister Henry Armstrong. (imdb.com)

Her vocal range spanned a ninth - just over one octave. (imdb.com)

Enjoyed reading comic books, including Captain Marvel, throughout her adult life. (imdb.com)

She died with 70 cents in the bank and $750 strapped to her leg -- a reminder of her life-long fear of poverty. (imdb.com)

Her given name was Eleanora (originally Elinore) -- "Billie" came from silent screen star Billie Dove. (imdb.com)

Billie had no cabaret card and this kept her from working in New York City clubs for the last 12 years of her life. (imdb.com)

At the time of her birth, her mother, Sarah Harris, was 13. Her father, Clarence Holiday, was 16. It's uncertain if they ever married. Clarence abandoned Sadie when Billie was an infant. (imdb.com)

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 (under the category Early Influence). (imdb.com)

Was raped at ten years old. (imdb.com)