Data Source

National Portrait Gallery

Exhibition Label

Renowned for making songs her own, Billie Holiday once explained, "I hate straight singing. I have to change a tune to my own way of doing it. That's all I know." This attitude characterized not only her singing style but her life as well. Having endured a difficult childhood, Holiday moved to New York City in 1927. Intent on fashioning a musical career, she began performing to supplement her meager income as a housemaid. Success onstage led to recording opportunities and, beginning in 1937, a close working relationship with Count Basie's band. Holiday later joined the Artie Shaw Orchestra, becoming one of the first African American singers to headline an all-white band. Despite the stardom she achieved, Holiday suffered various personal crises during the last two decades of her life, several of which were the result of drug and alcohol abuse.

Artist

Roy DeCarava, 9 Dec 1919 - 27 Oct 2009

Sitter

Billie Holiday, 7 Apr 1915 - 17 Jul 1959

Date

1957 (printed 1982)

Credit Line

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution

Medium

Gelatin silver print

Dimensions

Image: 33.1 x 25.4cm (13 1/16 x 10")

Sheet: 35.3 x 27.6cm (13 7/8 x 10 7/8")

Mat: 71.1 x 55.9cm (28 x 22")

Type

Photograph

See more items in

National Portrait Gallery Collection

Object number

NPG.93.345

Topic

Costume\Jewelry\Earring

Billie Holiday: Female

Billie Holiday: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Singer\Jazz

Portrait

Restrictions & Rights

© Roy DeCarava