For over a decade, the 200 block of South Durham Street in Upper Fells Point has proudly embraced the title “Lady Day Way,” a testament to the vibrant murals, painted screens, and artistic displays that celebrate the legacy of jazz legend Billie Holiday, who previously called Baltimore home.
On Saturday, November 22, the community will gather to honor the unveiling of a stunning new mural on the garage door situated at 243 S. Durham St.
The mural is the creation of artist Yewande Kotun Davis and depicts the iconic singer posing alongside a vintage red convertible, set against a backdrop featuring a jazz band. This artwork is aptly titled “A Night with Lady Day.”
The mural was commissioned through a Community Health & Safety Works grant from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, facilitated by the Upper Fells Point Improvement Association. The community celebration will kick off at 2 p.m. on November 22.
This free, family-oriented event will not only provide attendees with the chance to admire the mural up close but also to meet the artist herself. Various dignitaries, including City Council President Zeke Cohen and City Comptroller Bill Henry, are expected to be in attendance.
Alongside Davis’ mural, visitors strolling the block will find five additional murals by talented artists like Bridget Cimino and Jaz Erenberg, as well as painted screens adorning the front windows of local homes. A distinctive mosaic tile piece titled “Flying” by Joseph Michael Rizza, created in 2013, adds to the artistic landscape.
One of the murals on the block replicates a portion of a Romare Bearden mosaic entitled “Baltimore Uproar,” commissioned for the Upton Metro Station in West Baltimore, which also pays homage to Billie Holiday. Many of these artworks are labeled with the artist’s name and completion date, transforming the street into an open-air gallery.
Billie’s Connection to 219 S. Durham St.
Billie Holiday, born Eleanora Fagan on April 7, 1915, and passed away on July 17, 1959, is celebrated as an extraordinary jazz and swing singer who profoundly influenced the world of music. Known for her innovative vocal style that drew inspiration from jazz musicians, Holiday pioneered new techniques in phrasing and tempo. A close friend and musical collaborator, Lester Young, affectionately dubbed her “Lady Day.”
Though her birthplace is Philadelphia, Holiday is intrinsically linked to Baltimore, having spent her formative years in the city. Born to an unmarried couple, Clarence Halliday and Sarah Julia “Sadie” Fagan, her mother fled to Philly at 19 after facing eviction due to her pregnancy.
Following her arrival, Holiday’s father abandoned the family to chase a career in music. With little support from her parents, her mother arranged for her to live with her older half-sister, Eva Miller, in Baltimore.
The details of her early life, as narrated in her autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues, often vary. However, it is widely believed she resided in Baltimore during her childhood, including living at 219 S. Durham St. in the mid-1920s. She was primarily cared for by her half-sister’s mother-in-law, Martha Miller, and briefly attended Saint Frances Academy in East Baltimore. By the end of the 1920s, she had relocated to Harlem, where she began her illustrious singing career.
The Baltimore Billie Holiday Project
The transformation of the 200 block of South Durham Street into “Lady Day Way” traces back to 2012, when residents of the area voiced their vision during a community meeting. After a discussion about Baltimore’s tradition of painted screens, neighbors proposed commissioning artwork to honor Billie Holiday, given her deep-rooted connection to the neighborhood.
This sparked the Baltimore Billie Holiday Project. Through collaboration with the Painted Screen Society, local homeowners were paired with artists to create screen artworks themed around Billie Holiday, individually funded by the homeowners. Approximately 10 of these delightful painted screens now grace the block, with many still standing proud today.
As enthusiasm increased, residents applied for a $20,000 city arts grant, which facilitated five additional murals and a mosaic piece, each uniquely crafted by different artists. This initiative coincided with essential street repairs that further enhanced the block’s character.
Neighbors have celebrated Billie Holiday’s legacy with block parties for her 99th and 100th birthdays in 2014 and 2015. The community also took initiative to officially rename the street “Lady Day Way” and added eye-catching planters and other features to beautify the area.
Documentation of the project can be found on the Baltimore Billie Holiday Project’s Facebook page. Future plans include further traffic calming measures featuring pavement art and vibrant crossing murals designed by Graham Projects.
“Billie Holiday’s story is intricately woven into the fabric of this neighborhood,” expressed Lisa Knickmeyer, a representative from the Upper Fells Point Improvement Association. “This mural serves not only as a tribute to her genius but also as a heartfelt love letter from the community she once called home.”
