The great jazz singer Billie Holiday -- "Lady Day" -- was born today in 1915. Her life was full of misery. Born out of wedlock, in abject poverty, suffering sexual abuse and rape before her 12th birthday, becoming a prostitute in her 12th year... Later on she would be involved in many romantic relationships but in vain. Her male lovers abused her, society condemned her for being black, and her body and soul wasted away from a heroin addiction she couldn't kick. But what a legacy she left behind! Her signature songs God Bless the Child, Strange Fruit and others; her smoky voice tinged with emotion, charging every song that came out of those lips with an energy of its own.

44 years of life? Too short, too short... but maybe for her they were too long. Rest in Peace Lady Day!

Official website, by her estate.

PBS will air a program on Apr 8th about Strange Fruit, perhaps Holiday's most (in)famous song. The website is here.