How Did Billie Holiday Impact Society

Billie Holiday was born on April 7, 1915 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her birth name is Eleanora Fagon, she is the daughter of Sarah Fagon also known as Eleanor Fagon and her father Clarence Holiday. Her parents had her at a young age the mother was only thirteen and the father fifteen years old. Her father was a musician he left Billie and her mother to pursue his career as a jazz guitarist. Billie didn’t have much of a great life growing up her mother had her at a very young age, not having the support of her parents and Billie’s father leaving them both. Her mother couldn’t take care so she sent her to live with Sarah’s older half-sister. She had many ups and down throughout her life. As, a child not having much of her parents in her life, trouble with substance abuse, meeting men who were only interested in her money, and arrested many times in her life.

Jane Addams, Whitney M.Young, Jr., and Ida B Wells were all great social reformers of the nineteenth and twentieth century. They were passionate about the lives of others which drew them to a calling that not only effected their generation but generations after till this day. The impact they left were building blocks that impacted the welfare of society for and shaped the diversity of American civilization for harmony. Though they came from various backgrounds they all had a commonality which was social justice and the courage to lead and make ways for others who have been oppressed and marginalized.

Jackie Robinson is one of the most perfect example of being an outlier. He was born and raised in a time when his people were treated as unequals. He was an amazing athlete but was treated as a low life because he was black in a “white” society. Until his athletic prowess and strong demeanor promoted him to be the perfect candidate to be one of the first to join the major leagues of baseball, and was chosen to help desegregate mainly baseball and sports, but most importantly the society of America. Such as MLK or Ghandi trying to create a change in their own way and process.

“Jackie Robinson will always be remembered for his awesome mental toughness. It was incredible how he was able to perform at such a high level on the field while handling the daily insults directed at him… These insults included not only the worst names imaginable” (Ringer) Jackie Robinson was one of the first African Americans to be drafted into the MLB despite the segregation African Americans faced during this time period. Jackie Robinson was a strong influencing African American figure during the social movement to end segregation and was an inspiration for young blacks in the era.

The first African American pro sports player, the former Brooklyn Dodger, Jackie Robinson, is the definition of the American Dream. He is the perfect example on what our country can bring to anyone that works hard enough for it. Jackie Robinson achieved amazing accomplishments during his time. Raised from a plantation in Georgia, Jackie Robinson was athletically gifted and was a stand out in high school and at UCLA where he did track, basketball, football, and baseball. On top of that Jackie Robinson went on to be the first African American in American pro sports and led to eventually all sports being filled with other races.

Susan B. Anthony has had a significant impact on society because she was greatly involved in women’s rights movements, she was active in many organizations that benefited the nation, and she was also an abolitionist.

Hank Williams Jr the son of legendary country singer Hank Williams. Like his father he himself is a country music artist. But unlike his father Hank Williams Jr plays more hardcore country music than what his father did. His mother help get him get into performing in front of people. His father had a big influence on him.

Carole King is a musical icon in the world of 20th century popular music, and her longevity and success as an artist have cemented her as one of the influential musicians out of every genre of music. In this essay, I will examine how her musical style and female identity each played roles her incredibly successful musical career.

Jackie Robinson is an important person in major league baseball. There were many conflicts in Robinson’s life. He was the first African American major league baseball player. Conflicts in Jackie Robinson’s baseball career has caused more good than bad in society, baseball, and even with racism.

"A Life is not important, But for the impact it has on other's lives" (qtd. in "Jackie

Louis Armstrong grew up poor on the streets like many other blacks of the time. However, he was able to make it big by playing the trumpet, changing his life forever. Louis grew up in New Orleans very poor. His father left him and he was forced to grow up with a foster family while still being connected with his mother. Louis Armstrong was the most influential man in jazz as he gave it a new sound and showed future musicians what they could become.

The 1930’s was a decade of extremely hard times, following the stock market crash and an extreme depression. In spite of the tremendous hardships in America during this decade, it also became a time of great music that is still remembered today. Jazz music was highly popular in this time, and Billie Holiday was a famous jazz performer. She stood out from many other musicians because of her intense and passionate performances. Jazz arose from “unacceptable” segments of society, but quickly grew like wildfire. We often think of the 1930’s as the decade that jazz became civilized, and famous throughout popular culture through the work of pioneering artists like Billie Holiday. People did not own televisions or cable, so radio was their main source of entertainment, and music during this decade was both up beat and a source of relaxation. “Strange Fruit” defied musical category because it was considered too artsy to be folk, and too explicitly political to fit into jazz. This is why “Strange Fruit” became such a powerful phenomenon. Many other artists later took on this song, changing the genre but still portraying the same message. Nina Simone dramatized “Strange Fruit” in the context of the Civil Rights Movement. More important artists like Jeff Buckley, Rene Marie, Labor Camp Orchestra, and many others made their own rendition on the song, still leaving all of their audiences moved by the powerful imagery of the lyrics.

Another phenomenal in jazz music was Billie holiday also known as (lady Day) (1915-1959). As a teenager, she began singing in jazz clubs. At the age of 18 Billie was discovered by john Hammond and received her first record as a part of a studio group led by Benny Goodman. She was one of the first black women to work with an all-white orchestra. She pioneered a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo. Some of her biggest hits were” what’s a little moonlight can do” and “Miss Brown to you”. “Holiday began working with Lester young in 1936, who gave her the nickname” Lady Day”. She also cowrote a few songs that became jazz standards, “God bless

Jazz is consider one of the most influential types of music an America History. Some of the greatest artist in the world have contribute to the success jazz have had not only on America History but throughout the world. This paper will explain the history of jazz, where it all came from and the effect it has had on the America Culture.

Jazz had an important influence in society during the 1960’s in many ways. In the 1960’s, jazz music was not in his best years, and because of that; someone had to create something that that could be as attractive as the jazz did before. “A Masterpiece by Midnight,” narrates the story of Louis Armstrong, a famous musician that helped The Beatles with “Hello Dolly”. During that period of time, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington passed away, and the loose of those musicians, jazz music seems to die with both of them. A new generation emerges, and many musicians were involved; for example, Dexter Gordon and Wynton Marsalis create new music that starts to gain a bigger audience.