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From album
Lady Sings the Blues
Billie Holiday · 1956 · Track 5
Details
Duración6:21
ÁlbumLady Sings the Blues
Año1956
ISRCUSPR35502408
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The story behind
The story of *Everything Happens To Me* is intertwined with the life and work of Billie Holiday, a figure whose career was marked by a deep connection with jazz and a complex personal narrative. Born Eleanora Fagan Gough in 1915 in Philadelphia, and also known as Lady Day, her path led her from a difficult childhood in Baltimore, with very young parents, to becoming one of the most influential voices in the genre. Her father, Clarence Holiday, a guitarist, left the family when she was just a baby. Her mother, Sarah Fagan, also very young, often left her in the care of others, which resulted in a childhood full of challenges.
Her foray into the world of music, which began around 1930, occurred in a context of need. In New York, facing the possibility of eviction for non-payment, Billie desperately sought a way to generate income. Upon entering a Harlem establishment, she tried to work as a dancer without success. However, a pianist, moved by her situation, gave her the opportunity to sing. It was at that moment that her vocal talent manifested, leading her to secure stable employment. Her musical learning did not come from formal education, but from attentive listening to artists like Bessie Smith and Louis Armstrong. The 1972 biographical film, *Lady Sings the Blues*, directed by Sidney J. Furie, portrays part of this journey, showing her transformation from a young woman in precarious circumstances to a jazz star, despite her personal struggles, such as heroin addiction and the loss of loved ones. Diana Ross's performance as Holiday in this production earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress in 1973, and the film was presented at the Cannes Film Festival that same year.