How Did Billie Holiday Impact Society

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

The “Roaring 20’s” changed Ella Fitzgerald’s lifestyle and her music by providing outstanding musicians, financial struggles, and popular music leading her to become one of the most prominent singers of all time. Though life provided numerous struggles she still managed to push through and complete her childhood dreams of becoming an entertainer. Fitzgerald’s voice developed through the style of music in the 20’s, eminent artists vocal structure and the emotion she channeled into her music due to her family’s financial issues. Overall Fitzgerald’s life during the 1920’s allowed her to develop into becoming a memorable artist.

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.

The Harlem Renaissance was an African American cultural movement specifically in creative arts such as music and literature. Jazz represented the flavor and zest of African American culture in the 1920s-1940s. Billie Holiday had a great impact on the Harlem Renaissance because she was one of the most influential jazz singers of all time. She performed with other great jazz musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Teddy Wilson, Jo Jones, and Henry Allen. Her career as a jazz singer was an incredible and thriving one, however, it was shortened because of her battle of substance abuse. Despite the drug use and the loss of her mother, the only thing she could turn to was her music. Billie Holiday's legacy will always live on when the discussion of the Harlem Renaissance is present.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Ernest Hemingway proves even still today that he was a complex man. He showed many characteristics of the modern person. Some of these include: how his influences affect him, his self satisfaction, and his political views. Many in today's society are influenced by strong figures in their life. These figures can include: parents, friends, professionals in the career they wish to pursue, and most importantly the people they used to be.

The 1920’s in American history seem to be very exciting. It was the height of the Harlem Renaissance, where African American literature, poetry, art and music emerged. You had all this African American talent growing and blasting into the mainstream. Historians refer to this time period as “The Jazz Age”. When jazz music was introduced to the public at clubs and dance halls it took off! People were either captivated by it, or appalled by it. Jazz was all about movement; it was driven by syncopation and improvisation, and for some it was considered “the devil’s music.” The novel Jazz by Toni Morrison allows you to wonder down the seductive streets of Harlem where it all began. The book gives a sense of both the scandal of Jazz music and the