1. facebook Billie Holiday is waiting for my next performance WallInfoPhotosSongs/VideosBillie HolidayLogout Wall InfoPhotosSongs/Videos Write something… Share Wall InfoPhotosSongs/Videos Photo Here Billie Holiday: What is your favorite song of mine? Sameena Khokhar: My favorite song of yours is “Strange Fruit” which is on the label of Commodore Records. The piano and vocals really stand out. Billie Holiday: Oh, thanks! I love the dynamics of the song. Its soft in the beginning and starts to get louder toward the middle and the end. The tempo is medium-slow. Sameena Khokhar: What is the message behind the song? I always wanted to know. Billie Holiday: Well, this particular song is about lynching, racism, injustice, and people who perpetrate killing. One of the lyrics of the song is “Black bodies swinging in the summer breeze…” which describes the killing of innocent people. “Strange Fruit” is referring to the victims of the killing. It’s a very emotional, sad, or heartbreaking song, but it tells a lot. Sameena Khokha r: I heard that “Strange Fruit” was based on a poem by Abel Morrepal, a Jewish school teacher from the Bronx. Is that true? Billie Holiday: Yes, it is true. The poem was eventually heard by Barney Josephson who later introduced it to me. After I performed and recorded it in 1939 my popularity skyrocketed. Sameena Khokhar: That’s Great! When you sang your song it sounded like a experience or a story rather than a group of notes. Awesome job. View photos of Artist/Band Send Artist/Bank a message Information Friends Genre(s):: Jazz, Vocal Jazz, Blues, Torch Songs, Swing Members: Billie Holiday Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland Record Label Commodore, Verve and Columbia Records Current Location: Deceased www.http://billieholiday.com Muddy Waters Ella FitzgeraldLouis Armstrong Lena HorneSarah VaughnCarmen Lundy

2. Wall InfoPhotosSongs/Videos Detailed Information Basic Information Genre(s): Jazz, Vocal Jazz, Blues, Torch Songs, Swing Members: Billie Holiday Instruments Played: Vocals Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland Record Label: Commodore, Verve, and the Columbia Records Current Location: Deceased Formed: After she gained more experience singing in night clubs, Billie Holiday was spotted by John Hammond and than did her first record as part of a studio group led by Benny Goodman. Band Member Biography: Eleanora Fagan was born on April 7, 1915 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Hit Albums/Years: Teddy Wilson & his Orchestra featuring Billie Holiday (1949) Stay With Me (1955) Hit Songs/Years: “Carelessly” (1937) “God Bless the Child” (1941) Awards/Achievements: In 1987, Billie Holiday was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Award. In 2000, Billie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Fun Facts: Billie Holiday was sometimes know as “Lady Day” or “Queen of Song.” White gardenias,worn in her became her trademark. She renamed herself Billie after her favorite film star Billie Dove. Contact Information Official Band Website: www.http://billieholiday.comwww.http://billieholiday.com View photos of Artist/Band Send Artist/Bank a message Information Friends Genre(s):: Jazz, Vocal Jazz, Blues, Torch Songs, Swing Members: Billie Holiday Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland Record Label Commodore, Verve and Columbia Records Current Location: Deceased Photo Here Billie Holiday is waiting for my next performance facebook WallInfoPhotosSongs/VideosBillie HolidayLogout www.http://billieholiday.com Muddy Waters Ella FitzgeraldLouis Armstrong Lena HorneSarah VaughnCarmen Lundy

3. Wall InfoPhotosSongs/Videos Billie Holiday is waiting for my next performance facebook WallInfoPhotosSongs/VideosBillie HolidayLogout Photos of Artist/Band Artist/Band’s Albums Photo Here When I got older Memories My white gardenias My voice I still love you

4. Featured Video facebook WallInfoPhotosSongs/VideosBillie HolidayLogout Wall InfoPhotosSongs/Video Featured Songs Photo Here Billie Holiday is waiting for my next performance References Gerdlem, Spencer B. Billie Holiday. New York, USA: 2006. "Billie Holiday." Web. 21 Jan. 2011.. Lizama, Dominic. "Billie Holiday.“ Billie Holiday the Official Site of Lady Day. 29 Dec. 2006. Web. 22 Jan. 2011.. "Billie Holiday Biography." Bio. True Story. 1996-2011. Web. 23 Jan. 2011.. Hunmer, Mark. Web. 29 Jan. 2011.. “Strange Fruit”“Carelessly” Click to hear “Strange Fruit”