( 1915-1959 )
With her pearly voice, exquisite phrasing, and tender-tough persona, Billie Holiday was among the most revered vocalists of the last century. Born in Philadelphia, her signature songs include God Bless the Child, Lover Man, and My Man. At her peak, Holiday was a headliner throughout the United States and in Europe. Her 1956 autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues, was made into a movie in 1972. In 2000, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.