Billie Holiday, born April 7, 1915 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was a superstar of her day. She first rose to prominence in the 1930's with a unique style that reinvented the conventions of modern singing and performance. More than 80 years after making her first recording, Billie's legacy continues to embody what is elegant and cool in contemporary music. Holiday's complicated life and genre-defining autobiography Lady Sings the Blues made her a cultural icon. Nicknamed "Lady Day", the evocative, soulful voice, which she boldly put forth as a force for good turned any song she sang, into her own. Her vocal style, strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists, pioneered a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo. She was known for her vocal delivery and imporvisational skills. Today, Billie Holiday is remembered for her musical masterpieces, her songwriting skills, creativity and courageous views on inequality and injustice. Billie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 and in 2011 inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. She was also posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement award in 1987.