“Billie Holiday was the daughter of Clarence Holiday. Her early life is obscure, as the account given in her autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues, is self-serving and inaccurate.

At some point after 1930, she began singing at a small club in Brooklyn, and in a year or so moved to Pods’ and Jerry’s, a Harlem club well known to jazz enthusiasts. In 1933, she was working in another Harlem club, Monette’s, where she was discovered by the producer and talent scout John Hammond. Hammond immediately arranged three recording sessions for her with Benny Goodman and found engagements for her in New York clubs.
FROM~ http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/artist_id_holiday_billie.htm

Strange Fruit: the first great protest song~ http://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/feb/16/protest-songs-billie-holiday-strange-fruit

The Guardian~“Billie Holiday’s centenary: a life in pictures”
http://www.theguardian.com/music/gallery/2015/apr/07/billie-holidays-centenary-a-life-in-pictures

SFGate~“Billie Holiday at 100: Artists reflect on jazz singer’s legacy”
http://www.sfgate.com/music/article/Billie-Holiday-at-100-Artists-reflect-on-jazz-6177350.php

Looking For Lady Day’s Resting Place? Detour Ahead~ http://www.npr.org/2012/07/17/156686608/looking-for-lady-days-resting-place-detour-ahead