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?Jezebel of Jazz?, Anita O?Day Dies

Anita O?Day, the tough, sassy jazz vocalist who dedicated her life to her music has died at the age of 87 after suffering from pneumonia. O?Day passed away in Los Angeles. At her bedside was her manager, Robbie Cavolina ? O?Day never had any children and she had no immediate family. The singer began her career when she was a teenager and didn?t stop singing until her death.

Anita O?Day left home at the age of 12 and soon became famous for her songs such as ?And her Tears Flowed Like Wine? and ?Honeysuckle Rose?. O?Day enjoyed global success in the 1940?s and 1950?s and she inspired many popular singers of the day. In 1981, she published her memoirs, ?High Times Hard Times? and continued recording until this year with the release of her ?Indestructible? album.

Becoming famous at such a young age and living her entire life in the spotlight obviously took its toll on Anita O?Day. Known in the industry as ?the Jezebel of Jazz?, O?Day battled a 16-year heroin addiction, and alcohol abuse was part of her life since she became famous. A frightening near-fatal drug overdose in the 1940s finally convinced her to give up drugs but she could never give up the bottle. In 1996, she fell down a flight of stairs while drunk ? an accident that left her in a wheelchair and caused her to lose her singing voice for over a year. When she finally declared that she was alcohol free after the last scare, O?Day took to the stage and began touring again ? until her death at the age of 87.