In her brief but highly impactful time on this earth, renowned American jazz singer Billie Holiday (1915-1959) was an undeniable musical legend in spite of the trauma, racism, substance abuse, legal troubles, and violence that characterized her life. Her third and final husband, Louis McKay, was, unfortunately no different from the previous men in Billie’s life. But few people know much about who he was.
As a child, Holiday was abused, and spent time in a Catholic children’s home before cleaning and running errands for a brothel. In 1928, she moved to Harlem with her mother, where they both ended up working in a brothel themselves. The years that followed were a nightmare of chronic rape, abuse, and subsequent imprisonment by the very police who should have protected her. When she was 14, she was charged with vagrancy and sent to a workhouse—when she got out, she, miraculously, began her career as an artist, singing in nightclubs around Harlem in uptown Manhattan.
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She went on to produce 12 studio records, three live albums, and dozens of top singles, including haunting hits like “Strange Fruit,” and “God Bless the Child,” which was named one of the Songs of the Century by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Sadly, Holiday’s struggles with her abusive husband Louis McKay would ultimately lead to her downfall. But who exactly was the man behind the scenes?
How Billie Met Louis McKay
Louis McKay and Billie Holiday met while she was touring Europe and working on her autobiography sometime in 1956. Some reports say he acted as her pimp, eventually graduating to being her “manager” and brutally violent husband. He would also steal most of her money.
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Louis McKay was not a musician, but he won Billie’s heart nonetheless—in spite of his bad reputation. According to NPR, McKay was a “wannabe gangster” and was, “by most accounts…a louse."
Louis McKay And Billie Holiday Were Arrested Before They Got Married
When Billie Holiday started her new romance with McKay, she “seemed happier than she had been in years.”
But not long after meeting, the pair were arrested for possession of narcotics. This wasn’t Holiday’s first run-in with the law—in her autobiography, she describes her first arrest, in 1947, for drug possession, saying it felt like the world was against her.
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She was charged with heroin possession at the time and received a one-year sentence. After leaving prison in 1948, she quit drugs, but it wasn’t long before the cycle of trauma and abuse caught up to her and she got back into the bad habit.
Billie Holiday’s Marriage to Louis McKay
In 1957, after their arrests, Holiday and Louis McKay got married in Mexico. She had married several times before, always to abusive men with drug problems, but McKay was the last. He worked as a mob enforcer and was naturally abusive.
Soon, McKay was also Holiday’s acting road manager. According to biography.com, “like many other men in her life, McKay used Holiday’s name and money to advance himself.”
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McKay was so physically abusive that Holiday often had to "tape up her ribs" before going onstage after a brutal beating. Although she didn't report the abuse to the authorities out of fear of both Mckay and the police, once she found out he had lost her money in a risky property speculation, she finally left him.
Once separated, Billie moved into an apartment in New York where she resided alone with her dog. When Holiday passed away in 1959, the two were estranged but still married, which would ultimately facilitate further theft of her funds even after her death.
Louis McKay’s Betrayal
It’s hard to pick just one way in which Louis McKay betrayed Holiday. For starters, McKay admitted he was a part of the operation that had Holiday arrested in West Virginia in 1947, close to a decade before they met.
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Holiday was on the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN) radar since at least 1939. To make matters worse, FBN commissioner Harry Anslinger was a widely known racist and made it his mission to take Holiday down for her drug and alcohol addiction. He relentlessly pursued her all the way up until her death in 1959.
"She's been getting away with too much s***," McKay said about setting her up, adding, "I got enough to finish her off." Continuing, he said, "I'm going to do her up so godd*** bad she going to remember as long as she live.”
Louis McKay Profited Off Of Billie Holiday Even After Death
While living alone with her dog, Billie Holiday’s drug and alcohol abuse increased, and in 1959, she was hospitalized. She died at the age of 44 of complications from cirrhosis of the liver.
At the time of her death, Billie Holiday had $0.70 in her bank account and $750 strapped to her leg.
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Holliday died without a will, which meant, unfortunately, that because she was still legally married to McKay, under New York law, he would inherit her estate, including her royalties. It was estimated that at that time these royalty interests amounted to $15,000 to $20,000 annually. In 2014, Billy Holiday’s estate was valued at $14 million.
In Tragedy, There Is Enduring Legacy
It’s hard not to read Billie Holiday’s story and be overwhelmed by the tragedy of it all. But there is beauty in tragedy as well, and Billie’s life, mired in struggle and sorrow as it was, is an astounding example of the human capacity to overcome all odds. Born and raised as she was in great trauma which she would never fully escape, Billie Holiday still somehow managed to rock the world with her voice and create soulful, otherworldly music.
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Holiday won four Grammy Awards, all of them posthumously, and was also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1976 as well as the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The latter have said that, “Billie Holiday changed jazz forever.”
It’s difficult not to wonder what Louis McKay would think if he could see how highly regarded Billie's legacy is even today. One could summon countless inspired music quotes based on the way her art ultimately conquered all.
Several films about Holiday’s life have been released, most recently The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021).
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.