Object Details
- Artist
- Roy DeCarava, 9 Dec 1919 - 27 Oct 2009
- Sitter
- Billie Holiday, 7 Apr 1915 - 17 Jul 1959
- 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.
- Credit Line
- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
- 1957 (printed 1982)
- Object number
- NPG.93.345
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Copyright
- © Roy DeCarava
- Type
- Photograph
- 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")
- See more items in
- National Portrait Gallery Collection
- National Portrait Gallery
- Topic
- Costume\Jewelry\Earring
- Billie Holiday: Female
- Billie Holiday: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Singer\Jazz
- Portrait
- Record ID
- npg_NPG.93.345
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4a7ae33aa-ab38-4039-8b72-4658af2f0056
Related Content
