Nina Mae McKinney

Nina Mae McKinney dubbed the "Dusky Clara Bow"- with light skin; a pouty mouth; large eyes; keen features; dark straight hair; and energy to burn.

Born in 1913 in Lancaster, South Carolina.

Known to spend wildly: on clothes, on jewelry, on friends, on nights on the town; eventually, on drugs.

Married Jimmy Monroe, left  (a one time husband of Billie Holiday, right) and Nina's manager at the time.

Billie Holiday, Lady Day

Billie wanted to move to England, where narcotics addictions were considered an illness instead of a crime, and adopt "Brown Babies" racially mixed World War II orphans who had difficult times in Europe. 

(Lester Young, saxophonist) Young is the one who gave Day her title 'Lady Day'

Jimmy Monroe (1st husband)

(Hazel Scott)

Billie's third husband,  Louis McKay (looks like Billie Dee Williams)

Top, Left Dizzy Gillespie, Top Right Count Basie

Bottom Left, Billy Eckstein, Bottom Right Harlem Club Owner Dickie Welles and actress Tallulah Bankhead

Being arrested for heroin.

New York Carnegie Hall

Chihuahua, Pepi

w/ Dizzy Gillespie

w/ Ella Fitzgerald

Louis McKay viewing his wife for the last time.