Who was U2's "Angel of Harlem" written in honor of?

U2's “Angel of Harlem” was written in honor of Billie Holiday, the influential American jazz singer nicknamed “Lady Day.”

The song appeared on U2's 1988 album Rattle and Hum and was released as a single in December that year. Its lyrics connect New York landmarks and African-American musical history, mentioning Harlem, JFK Airport, radio station WBLS, jazz musicians, and Holiday herself.

The song grew from U2's increasing interest in American roots music during the Joshua Tree era. Bono described being inspired by arriving in New York, seeing the Manhattan skyline from a limousine, and hearing Billie Holiday on the radio. The recording itself was made at Sun Studio in Memphis, linking the tribute to another important center of American music.

A common mix-up is assuming the title refers to a fictional angel or a generic Harlem figure. It is a poetic reference to Holiday, whose influence and association with New York jazz culture are central to the song.