Billie Holiday: Regular Job Singing

Posted by admin on Monday, April 8, 2019

Billie Holiday Money Quote saying as an aspiring artist that she impressed her mom with her ability to earn enough to cover expenses. Billie Holiday said:
 

 

“When I showed Mom the money for the rent and told her I had a regular job singing for eighteen dollars a week, she could hardly believe it” — Billie Holiday

 

 

In this quote, Billie Holiday is reminiscing about showing her mother the money she had earned from her first steady singing job, where she was paid $18 per week. A few key points:

• As a young woman just starting her career, this relatively small amount of $18 per week from singing regularly would have been an achievement and source of pride.
• She brought the money to her mother, likely still living at home, to pay the family rent. This shows her eagerness to contribute financially.
• Her mother was surprised and proud, finding it hard to believe her daughter at a young age had secured a stable job performing music weekly, even if the pay was modest.
• The quote reflects a moment of joy and accomplishment for the up-and-coming Holiday, as well as pride and relief for her mother that her daughter was earning an income through her musical talents.

Birthday: April 7, 1915 – Death: July 17, 1959

Categories: music Tagged:billie holidayjobrent