Billie Holiday

One thing is clear, Billie Holiday loved dogs! Here she is with her chihuahua, Pepi, in 1957. photographer Bob Willoughby/Redferns.

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Una Mae Carlisle

Una Mae Carlisle (December 26, 1915 - November 7, 1956) was an American jazz singer, pianist, and songwriter. Fats Waller discovered Carlisle when she was still in her teens, while she worked as a local Cincinnati performer live and on radio.

by Confetta

Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday post by anna-dee

last.fm/music

Odetta Holmes

Odetta Holmes (December 31, 1930 – December 2, 2008), known as Odetta, was an American singer, actress, guitarist, songwriter, and a civil and human rights activist, often referred to as "The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement".

Eddie Cantor

Eddie Cantor, (January 31, 1892 – October 10, 1964), born Edward Israel Iskowitz, in New York City. After becoming a smash hit in vaudeville, Ziegfeld signed him for his Midnight Frolics and then the Follies of his Midnight Frolics and then the Follies of 1917, 1918, 1919 and 1923.  From there he went to films in the 1920s, starring in Whoopee, Kid from Spain and Kid Millions. Eddie Cantor was an American  performer, comedian, dancer, singer, actor and songwriter.

Source: ziegfeldgrrl

W.C. Handy

W. C. Handy, age 19

William Christopher Handy (November 16, 1873 – March 28, 1958) was a blues composer and musician. He was widely known as the "Father of the Blues". Handy remains among the most influential of American songwriters. Though he was one of many musicians who played the distinctively American form of music known as the blues, he is credited with giving it its contemporary form. Handy was an educated musician who used folk material in his compositions. He was scrupulous in documenting the sources of his works, which frequently combined stylistic influences from several performers. He loved this folk musical form and brought his own transforming touch to it.

Source: wikipedia | mythical

Alberta Hunter

Alberta Hunter (April 1, 1895 – October 17, 1984) was an American blues singer, songwriter, and nurse. Her career had started back in the early 1920s, and from there on, she became a successful jazz and blues recording artist, being critically acclaimed to the ranks of Ethel Waters and Bessie Smith. In the 1950s, she retired from performing and entered the medical field, only to successfully resume her singing career in her 80s.

Source: google | wikipedia

Samuel Cooke

Samuel Cooke, better known under the stage name Sam Cooke, (January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964), was an American gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is considered to be one of the pioneers and founders of soul music.

Source: thelavalizard | google

James Johnson

James Weldon Johnson (June 17, 1871 – June 26, 1938) was an American author, politician, diplomat, critic, journalist, poet, anthologist, educator, lawyer, songwriter, and early civil rights activist. James Johnson was born in Jacksonville, Florida. Johnson started the first black newspaper in the United States, The Daily American.

Source: blackpast | clipartguide

Bo Diddley

Ellas Otha Bates, known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, and rock and roll pioneer. His original style of rhythm and blues influenced generations of musicians. And his Bo Diddley syncopated beat — three strokes/rest/two strokes — became a stock rhythm of rock ’n’ roll.

Source: aconversationoncool | nytimes

Woody Guthrie

Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie (July 14, 1912 – October 3, 1967) was an American singer-songwriter and folk musician whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children's songs, ballads and improvised works.

 Source: wikimedia | google

Peggy Lee

Peggy Lee (May 26, 1920 – January 21, 2002) was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress in a career spanning six decades.

Source: marcmyers

Harry Richman

Harry Richman (10 August 1895–3 November 1972) was an American entertainer. He was a singer, actor, dancer, comedian, pianist, songwriter, bandleader, and night club performer, at his most popular in the 1920s and 1930s.

Puttin’ On the Ritz (Irving Berlin) — published in 1929 and introduced by Harry Richman in the musical film Puttin’ on the Ritz (1930).

Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday born Eleanora Harris (April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing. Considered by many to be the greatest jazz vocalist of all time.

 Source: last.fm | hubpages