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Clarence Holiday Biography

It is ironic that Clarence Holiday is primarily remembered today as the father of Billie Holiday for he never married Billie's mother and, before Lady Day made it big, he was not too happy about having to admit that he had a grown-up daughter. Holiday worked locally until he became a member of the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra (1928-33). Primarily a rhythm guitarist and rarely a soloist, Clarence Holiday recorded (in addition to many records with Henderson) with Benny Carter (1934) and Bob Howard (1935) and worked with Charlie Turner (1935), Louis Metcalf (1935-36) and the Don Redman big band (1936-37) before his early death. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide


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