| 1915 | - April 7, Born in Philadelphia, Penn. |
| 1930 | - Holiday appears in various Harlem clubs with singer Laurence Jackson |
| 1933 | - Holiday cuts her first records at the age of 18 - Discovered by talent agent John Hammond - Hammond organizes her first commercial recording session with Benny Goodman |
| 1935 | - Records some of her most memorable sides including "Miss Brown to You." - Stars alongside Duke Ellington in the film "Symphony in Black" |
| 1937 | - Receives the nickname "Lady Day" from sax player Lester Young - She teams with the Count Basie Orchestra |
| 1938 | - She teams with Artie Shaw |
| 1939 | - Becomes one of the first artists to perform at Cafe Society - Introduces the songs "Strange Fruit" and "God Bless the Child" - Records her first major session at Commodore |
| 1944 | - Records her second major session at Commodore - Holiday signs with Decca Records |
| 1946 | - Stars in the film "New Orleans" - Headlines New York's Town Hall |
| 1954 | - She tours Europe |
| 1959 | - Holiday makes her final studio recordings with MGM - Holiday gives her final performance in New York City. - July 17, Holiday dies in New York City. |
| 1972 | - Diana Ross stars as Holiday in the film "Lady Sings the Blues" |
| 1988 | - U2 releases the Billie Holiday tribute song "Angel of Harlem" |
| 2000 | - Billie Holiday is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the fifteenth annual induction dinner. Diana Ross is her presenter. |
About Billie Holiday
Timeline
