Billie Holiday was born on April 7, 1915 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Her parents were Sadie Fagun & Clarence Holiday. She began singing in small jazz clubs earning the reputation as one of the best American jazz singers. She was first established by John Hammond at the age 18, and then followed to performing in the Apollo. She then picked up the name Billie from her admiration of actor Billie Dove .As her singer career expanded she began traveling all over the world. Holiday began abusing the use of drugs, consuming cocaine, opium, drinking liquor, smoking cigarettes and marijuana. By the late 1940’s her drug addiction and chronic depression brought her career to a halt. She had many accomplishments such as writing a book, & producing many songs