Billie Holiday

Hero. What comes to your mind when people mention the word hero? Who is exactly a hero? Many people have a different meaning of what a hero is and why they are a hero. To me, a hero is someone who is always there through the good and the bad times. A hero is someone who gives back to the community and just does things right in life. A person who has a positive influenced on society and people can honestly say that they changed someone's life. I honesty can't say I have a "hero" or believe in having one, but of course I have people that I admire and look up to. I will describe who influences me. I will dedicate this essay to someone who has qualities of being a "hero." The person is Billie Holiday a.k.a. "Lady Day".

Billie Holiday was born Eleanora Fagan on April 7, 1915. She was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Baltimore. Her mother's name was Sadie Fagan. She was thirteen years old when she had Billie Holiday. Her father's name is Clarence Holiday. He was a jazz guitarist. He was fifteen when Billie was born. Her parents later on divorced. Her father left her mother and some relatives behind.

Billie Holiday was a great jazz singer. Some famous songs were: 'What a Little Moonlight Can Do,' 'Twenty-Four Hours a Day,' 'If You Were Mine,' which were with her band. Her own songs were: 'Strange Fruit,' 'Fine and Mellow' and a lot more. Another big accomplishment was in 1935, when she sang at the Apollo Theater and appeared in a film with Duke Ellington.

Billie Holiday was not only a famous African American jazz singer, she was also the First Lady African American jazz singer in her time. That is why I can say I look up to her. There was a lot of racism she went through and I know being a women made things worse for her because the music industry was run by men. It was like a "man's world," even with African American men. So I commend her for being the first LADY jazz singer.

In conclusion, Billie Holiday was and always will be a great influence in my life. Unfortunately, she died Friday July 17, 1959 but she will always have an impact on our lives and her memory will stay with us always. It will stay alive.