Jazz singer Billie Holiday was born on April 7, 1915.
Here is a vocabulary quiz based on her life that I made to pay homage to this great vocalist. Answers are at the end!
Billie Holiday dealt with many difficulties but was able to triumph over adversity through music.
1) What does adversity mean?
a) A joyful occasion
b) A state of peace and tranquility
c) Difficulties or misfortune
d) An unexpected surprise
One night in 1933, Holiday was filling in for Monette Moore at a club in Harlem. Influential music producer John Hammond was in the audience. He later said, “I decided that night that she was the best jazz singer I had ever heard.”
2) What was Harlem like at that time?
a) A bustling metropolis
b) A quiet countryside
c) A vibrant cultural hub
d) A deserted wasteland
The meeting between Billie Holiday and John Hammond was pivotal to her career.
3) What does pivotal mean?
a) Insignificant
b) Unremarkable
c) Essential or crucial
d) Optional or discretionary
“Strange Fruit,” a song that protests racial inequities and one of Holiday’s biggest hits, is haunting and poignant.
4) What does poignant mean?
a) Confusing or perplexing
b) Humorous or amusing
c) Deeply moving or emotionally touching
d) Ordinary or mundane
Although Billie Holiday was an incredibly talented singer, her personal life was turbulent.
5) What does turbulent mean?
a) Calm
b) Serene
c) Chaotic or stormy
d) Predictable or stable
— ANSWERS — ANSWERS — ANSWERS — ANSWERS — ANSWERS —
1. c) Difficulties or misfortune
2. c) A vibrant cultural hub
3. c) Essential or crucial
4. c) Deeply moving or emotionally touching
5. c) Chaotic or stormy
Photo: Billie Holiday, 1947. Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (LC-GLB23-0425). Encyclopædia Britannica
This quiz was based on this post about Billie Holiday:
https://facts.net/history/people/13-facts-about-billie-holiday/
Some additional information came from JerryJazzMusician's post:
https://www.jerryjazzmusician.com/great-encounters-25-when-john-hammond-discovered-billie-holiday/