Billie Holiday Records 'Strange Fruit'

Date: April 20, 1939 • Location: Washington, United States

Billie Holiday (pictured) recorded the song "Strange Fruit", which later became an emblem of the civil rights movement.

Billie Holiday was an American jazz and swing music singer. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner, Lester Young, Holiday made significant contributions to jazz music and pop singing. Her vocal style, strongly influenced by jazz instrumentalists, inspired a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo. Holiday was known for her vocal delivery and improvisational skills.