Ella Fitzgerald | Artist
Ella Fitzgerald was an American jazz singer born 1917 in Newport News, Virginia. Often referred to as the "First Lady of Song" and the "Queen of Jazz," Fitzgerald was known for her remarkable vocal talent, improvisational skill, and unparalleled ability to interpret and perform a wide range of musical styles. Fitzgerald overcame a challenging childhood marked by poverty and family instability to become one of the most influential and beloved jazz vocalists of the 20th century. Her mother died when she was 15 years old and Ella began skipping school and her grades suffered. At night she worked as a lookout at a bordello and with a Mafia-affiliated numbers runner. She never talked publicly about this time in her life. When the authorities caught up with her, she was placed in the Colored Orphan Asylum in Riverdale in the Bronx, then the New York Training School for Girls, a state reformatory school in Hudson, New York. Later she survived by singing on the streets of Harlem. Fitzgerald debuted at the age of 17 on November 21, 1934, in one of the earliest Amateur Nights at the Apollo Theatre, where she won first prize. Her performance caught the attention of bandleader Chick Webb, who invited her to join his orchestra as the lead singer. This marked the beginning of a legendary career that spanned over six decades and produce a vast discography of more than 200 albums. In fact, Norman Granz founded Verve Records in 1956 primarily as a platform to release the records of Ella Fitzgerald. Verve now has the largest jazz catalogue in the world. One of Fitzgerald's most distinctive qualities as a vocalist was her remarkable range, clarity, and flexibility, and her "scat" vocal improvisation technique. Throughout her career Fitzgerald collaborated with many renowned musicians, including Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie, yielding numerous classic recordings. Her "American Songbook" series, a collection of albums dedicated to the works of songwriters such as Cole Porter, George Gershwin, and Irving Berlin, showcases Fitzgerald's ability to interpret and reinvent classic songs. Fitzgerald was also a trailblazer for racial equality in the music industry, at a time when segregation and discrimination were pervasive. Fitzgerald's discography is studded with all-time jazz classics. Standouts include Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers and Hart Song Book (1956), Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book (1956), Ella and Louis (1956), Ella and Louis Again (1957), Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book (1957), Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Song Book (1958), Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book (1959), Porgy & Bess (1959), Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas (1960), Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen Song Book (1961), Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! (1961), Ella & Basie! (1963), Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Jerome Kern Song Book (1963), and the live album Ella in Berlin: Mack the Knife (1960). Her song book series is compiled into the excellent The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books (1993). Ella Fitzgerald's accolades include 14 Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts, the NAACP's inaugural President's Award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Artist Website: wikipedia/Ella_Fitzgerald
Featured Albums: Ella Fitzgerald
Related Artists: Louis Armstrong, Ray Brown, Duke Ellington, Count Bassie
Collections: Women of Note, Music Visionaries
