Billie Holiday

USA, 1933–1959

Lady Day. Her behind-the-beat phrasing, microtonal inflections and ability to transform any song into autobiography made her the most personal voice in jazz history.

Influenced by

• Louis Armstrong
• Bessie Smith

Influenced

• Aretha Franklin
• The Supremes
• Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
• Etta James
• Dinah Washington
• Diana Ross
• Frank Sinatra
• Ruth Brown