Ella Fitzgerald – First Lady of Song
Ella Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996), known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Queen of Jazz". She overcame poverty in Virginia, parental separation, life in Harlem, leaving school early, and periods of homelessness as a teenager. Her life changed in 1934 when, at age 17, she won an amateur night contest at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.
She joined Chick Webb's orchestra and recorded the 1938 hit "A-Tisket, A-Tasket", which reached #1. Ella was celebrated for her crystal-clear tone, perfect diction, three-octave range, legendary scat singing, effortless swing, and deeply emotional ballad interpretations. She could imitate almost any instrument in the band.
- Iconic "Song Book" albums dedicated to Cole Porter, George & Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington, and others
- Groundbreaking live jazz albums
- Performed and recorded with Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Sinatra, and many more
- Timeless performances of "Summertime", "How High the Moon", "Mack the Knife", "Cheek to Cheek", and hundreds of standards
Almost 60-year career with over 40 million albums sold worldwide. Major honors include 13 Grammy Awards (plus Lifetime Achievement), National Medal of Arts (1987), Presidential Medal of Freedom (1992), and Kennedy Center Honors. Diabetes complications forced her retirement in the mid-1990s. She passed away at age 79 in 1996 and remains the most influential female jazz vocalist in history.
