Sing the Blues with 15 Beautiful Billie Holiday Tattoos

During the 1920s, the jazz age began in America and it continued to grow in popularity through the 1930s and 1940s. It was during this time that Billie Holiday began her career and took the music world by storm. Holiday was born in Philadelphia to unwed teenage parents and spent most of her childhood in Baltimore, living with her Aunt’s mother in law. In 1928, Holiday’s mother moved to Harlem and one year later, the then 13-year-old joined her.

As a 13-years-old, Holiday began performing in nightclubs in Harlem and once she turned 18, she was offered a recording contract with Brunswick Records from producer John Hammond. Throughout the 1930s, Holiday made a name for herself in the jazz scene and collaborated with many popular musicians, including pianist Teddy Wilson, saxophonist Lester Young and band leader Artie Shaw.

In 1939, Holiday recorded the song “Strange Fruit,” which was written by Abel Meeropol about a lynching. For the time, this song made a huge statement and became her biggest selling record. Her other popular songs include 1936’s “The Way You Look Tonight,” 1937’s “Carelessly,” and 1938’s “I’m Gonna Lock My Heart.”

In honor of Holiday’s impressive legacy, we’re celebrating her by sharing some of our favorite tattoos by world renowned artists. These artists capture Holiday’s essence and show that even today, she’s still a celebrated musician. Take a peek at the tattoos in the gallery below, then let us know your thoughts on this story in the comment section on social media.