Billie Holiday Billie Holiday was born on April 7,1915, in Baltimore. Billie Holiday's grandfather had been a Slave in Virgina. Billie's parents, Sally Fagan and Clarence Holiday, were both born in Baltimore. They married as teens, soon after, Sally gave birth to Eleanora Fagan. While growing up, she changed her name to Billie Holiday. Shortly after the birth, Clarence Holdiay deserted his family to tour with Fletcher Henderson's band. Billie saw little of her immediate family. …showed first 75 words of 692 total…

…showed last 75 words of 692 total…Europe she was arrested again on charges of drugs. Trying to regain her life she entered a drug rehabilitation clinic. But her drug and marital problems continued to worsen. On the summer day of July 17,1957, Billie Holiday's problems finally caught up with her. She died at the age of 44. She was confronted with many tragedies in her lifetime and yet still grew up to become one of the most popular jazz vocalists of all time.