Ella Fitzgerald. National Womens History Museum. In her lifetime, she won 13 Grammy awards and sold over 40 million albums. Once in custody, the authorities sent fifteen-year-old Fitzgerald to reform school in Hudson, New York. While on tour with Dizzy Gillespies band in 1946, Ella fell in love with bassist Ray Brown. Fitzgerald features on one track on Basie's 1957 album, Fitzgerald and Joe Pass recorded four albums together toward the end of Fitzgerald's career. Born on April 25, 1917, in Newport News, Virginia, singer Fitzgerald was the product of a common-law marriage between William Fitzgerald and Temperance "Tempie" Williams Fitzgerald. Du Bois and Booker T. Washingtons Clash, Whitney Houston and Bobby Browns Relationship, Whitney Houstons Friendship with Robyn Crawford, Beyonc's Renaissance Tour Merch is on Amazon, Opal Lee: The Grandmother of Juneteenth, Lupita Nyong'o Just Wore Brad Pitt's Skincare Line, Halle Bailey's The Little Mermaid Glossier Makeup. Open Document. Ella Fitzgerald website. Shortly afterward, Ella began singing a rendition of the song, (If You Cant Sing It) You Have to Swing It. During this time, the era of big swing bands was shifting, and the focus was turning more toward bebop. [26][27] While working for Decca Records, she had hits with Bill Kenny & the Ink Spots,[28] Louis Jordan,[29] and the Delta Rhythm Boys. 4,640 Followers. Impressed with her natural talent, he began introducing Ella to people who could help launch her career.
Amazon.com: The Complete Original Song Books : Ella Fitzgerald: Digital Norman refused to accept any type of discrimination at hotels, restaurants or concert halls, even when they traveled to the Deep South. Three years later, she died at age 79 after years of declining health. On April 25, 1917, jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald is born in Newport News, Virginia.. She was called "The First Lady of Song," an honor whose meaning is captured in a compliment paid to her by . It is quite apropos that Ella Fitzgerald was the first vocalist recipient of the NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship, as she is considered by most people to be the quintessential jazz singer. I never knew how good our songs were until I heard Ella Fitzgerald sing them, Ira Gershwin once remarked. Related questions Did ella Fitzgerald attend school for music? Due in no small part to her vocal quality, with lucid intonation and a broad range, the singer would go on to win 13 Grammys in total and sell more than 40 million albums. Maybe I can sing it and you'll understand. [74] Her goals were to give back and provide opportunities for those "at risk" and less fortunate. On June 15, 1996, Ella Fitzgerald died in her Beverly Hills home. Ella played with the new style, often using her voice to take on the role of another horn in the band. Eventually Ella escaped from the reformatory. Frances, Fitzgeralds half-sister, was born in 1923. She performed at top venues all over the world, and packed them to the hilt. A performance at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London was filmed and shown on the BBC. Ella Jane Fitzgerald, deemed The First Lady of Song, was born on April 25, 1917, to William Fitzgerald and Temperance Henry. She escaped the reform school and found herself alone during the Great Depression. She worked as a lookout at a bordello and with a Mafia-affiliated numbers runner. By Adriana Aumen, College of Arts . If the kids like her, Chick said, she stays.. She started changing her singing style, incorporating scat singing during her performances. "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" became a major hit on the radio and was also one of the biggest-selling records of the decade.[17][22]. From 1956-1964, she recorded covers of other musicians albums, including those by Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, the Gershwins, Johnny Mercer, Irving Berlin, and Rodgers and Hart. [79], In 1958 Fitzgerald became the first African-American woman to win at the inaugural show. [51], Fitzgerald also appeared in TV commercials, her most memorable being an ad for Memorex. The advent of bebop led to new developments in Fitzgerald's vocal style, influenced by her work with Dizzy Gillespie's big band. Fitzgerald also had celebrity supporters, such a Marilyn Monroe, who personally called venues to make sure they booked her for performances. She received support from numerous celebrity fans, including a zealous Marilyn Monroe. [19], In January 1935, Fitzgerald won the chance to perform for a week with the Tiny Bradshaw band at the Harlem Opera House. Known for her beautiful ballads, her fiery bebop scat solos, and her ability to connect with anyone through song, Fitzgerald had a career lasting more than 6 decades and sang with dozens of her contemporaries, including . "[9], In 1932, when Fitzgerald was 15 years old, her mother died from injuries sustained in a car accident. Fitzgerald and Pass appeared together on the albums, Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington recorded two live albums and two studio albums. Ultimate Symbol Incorporated. Granz required promoters to ensure that there was no "colored" or "white" seating. The disease left her blind, and she had both legs amputated in 1994. Her infectious scat singing brought excitement to such concert recordings as Mack the Knife: Ella in Berlin and was widely imitated by others. She also performed several times with Frank Sinatra over the years as well. As the campaign became an institution, Fitzgerald, pushing 60, reveled in a Memorex-fueled career resurgence. In 1958, Fitzgerald made history as the first African American woman to win a Grammy Award. Her grades dropped dramatically, and she frequently skipped school.
Ella Fitzgerald Lyrics, Songs, and Albums | Genius "[53] She also appeared in a number of commercials for Kentucky Fried Chicken, singing and scatting to the fast-food chain's longtime slogan: "We do chicken right! Her many subsequent recordings showcased the wide range and sweetness of her voice and made her one of the best-selling jazz vocal recording artists in history. At the Opera House shows a typical Jazz at the Philharmonic set from Fitzgerald. Ella Jane Fitzgerald was born in Newport News, Va. on April 25, 1917. The press carried rumors that she would never be able to sing again, but Ella proved them wrong. She later described the period as strategically crucial, saying, "I had gotten to the point where I was only singing be-bop. Norman wasnt the only one willing to stand up for Ella. [63] Her eyesight was affected as well.[9]. The Joy Of Ella Fitzgerald's Accessible Elegance. What did Fitzgerald do as a child? She told him and it was true, due to Marilyns superstar status that the press would go wild. "[12] Frank Sinatra, out of respect for Fitzgerald, prohibited Capitol Records from re-releasing his own recordings in separate albums for individual composers in the same way. Her father, William, and mother, Temperance (Tempie), parted ways shortly after her birth. In 2007, We All Love Ella, was released, a tribute album recorded for Fitzgerald's 90th birthday. Fitzgerald also put out her first No. The 1940s ushered in the bebop style of jazz; Fitzgerald adopted it and excelled. Around this time, Fitzgerald went on tour with Dizzy Gillespie and his band. Accessed March 19, 2022. http://www.ellafitzgerald.com/about/biography, Ella Fitzgerald. National Endowment for the Arts. She garnered 14 Grammy Awards, including one for lifetime achievement. She made her last recording in 1989 and her last public performance in 1991 at New York's Carnegie Hall. These partnerships produced some of her best-known songs such as "Dream a Little Dream of Me", "Cheek to Cheek", "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall", and "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)". Accessed March 20, 2022. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ella-Fitzgerald. It was directed by Leslie Woodhead and produced by Reggie Nadelson. [43] Plagued by health problems, Fitzgerald made her last recording in 1991 and her last public performances in 1993. By Ashley Angelucci Ella Fitzgerald, known as "The First Lady of Song," was a revolutionary American jazz singer who performed all over the world. Bonnie Greer dramatized the incident as the musical drama, Marilyn and Ella, in 2008. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Two jazz studies majors from N.C. Central University's department of music were selected as recipients of a four-year scholarship from the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation. She lived in a diverse neighborhood and made friends easily by playing games and sports in the street. The two women remained close for the rest of Fitzgeralds life. Fitzgerald then published her first of eight song books, Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book (1956). [9] In 1961 Fitzgerald bought a house in the Klampenborg district of Copenhagen, Denmark, after she began a relationship with a Danish man. Folk singer Odetta's album To Ella (1998) is dedicated to Fitzgerald, but features no songs associated with her. Discovered in an amateur contest, she went on to become the top female jazz singer for decades. Despite her declining health, she continued performing, sometimes two shows a day in different cities. She recorded some hit songs with the Ink Spots and Louis Jordan in the early 1940s. From 1956 to 1964 she recorded a 19-volume series of songbooks, in which she interpreted nearly 250 outstanding songs by Richard Rodgers, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, and Johnny Mercer. Fitzgerald began singing and performing on the streets of Harlem in order to make ends meet. Ella Fitzgerald is known as the "First Lady of Song," and for good reason. Ultimately, Ray Jr. and Ella reconnected and mended their relationship. With Verve she recorded some of her more widely noted works, particularly her interpretations of the Great American Songbook. [15] Later that year, she was introduced to drummer and bandleader Chick Webb by Benny Carter[20] or Buck Ram[21] who had heard from singer Charlie Linton that Webb wanted to add a female singer. Ellas half-sister, Frances, was born in 1923 and soon she began referring to Joe as her stepfather. About Ella Fitzgerald. I never knew how good our songs were until I heard Ella Fitzgerald sing them. Her multi-volume "songbooks" on Verve Records are among America's recording treasures. In the band that night was saxophonist and arranger Benny Carter. She had her own side project, too, known as Ella Fitzgerald and Her Savoy Eight. Photography by William P. Gottlieb. [15] But it was her 1938 version of the nursery rhyme, "A-Tisket, A-Tasket", a song she co-wrote, that brought her public acclaim. Fitzgerald also fell in love with Gillespie's bass player Ray Brown. Although a contemporary Australian press report[33] quoted an Australian Pan-Am spokesperson who denied that the incident was racially based, Fitzgerald, Henry, Lewis and Granz filed a civil suit for racial discrimination against Pan-Am in December 1954[34] and in a 1970 television interview Fitzgerald confirmed that they had won the suit and received what she described as a "nice settlement". Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Henry Evans joined the College of Arts and Sciences on July 1 as its first associate dean for equity and outreach. Still harboring dreams of becoming an entertainer, she entered an amateur contest at Harlem's Apollo Theater. Living there was even more unbearable, as she suffered beatings at the hands of her caretakers. She could sing sultry ballads, sweet jazz and imitate every instrument in an orchestra. Click the link to confirm your email address.Please check your spam folder for the email, if it does not arrive, click this link Sign up to receive email updates and offers from. When learning a standard, I often found myself looking for Ella's version for either a solo or because I simply love the way she interprets tunes. She asked the band to play Hoagy Carmichaels Judy, a song she knew well because Connee Boswells rendition of it was among Tempies favorites. Ella Fitzgerald, an American jazz singer of the mid-20th century, ruled under the titles Queen of Jazz, Lady Ella and the First Lady of Song. Fitzgerald was then sent to a special reform school but didn't stay there long. I owe Marilyn Monroe a real debt, Ella later said.
Ella Fitzgerald Biography & Songs | Who was Ella Fitzgerald? - Study.com [55], Ella Fitzgerald Just One of Those Things is a film about her life including interviews with many famous singers and musicians who worked with her and her son. Her accolades included 14 Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts, the NAACP's inaugural President's Award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Her voice was flexible, wide-ranging, accurate and ageless. She received many other awards, including honorary doctorates from Yale, Dartmouth, and several other universities. They took us down, Ella later recalled, and then when we got there, they had the nerve to ask for an autograph.. [38] The booking was instrumental in Fitzgerald's career. In September of 1986, Ella underwent quintuple coronary bypass surgery. It was in this period that Fitzgerald started including scat singing as a major part of her performance repertoire. 1935 Won one week of performing at the Harlem Opera House 1937 Top Female Vocalist, Down Beat magazine 1938 First No. Despite her declining health, she continued performing, sometimes two shows a day in different cities. Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book, released in 1956, was the first of eight Song Book sets Fitzgerald would record for Verve at irregular intervals from 1956 to 1964.
Ella Fitzgerald - Santiago Canyon College Still going strong five years later, she was inducted into the Down Beat magazine Hall of Fame, and received Kennedy Center Honors for her continuing contributions to the arts. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Photo: Anthony Bruno/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images, Name: Ella Fitzgerald, Birth Year: 1917, Birth date: April 25, 1917, Birth State: Virginia, Birth City: Newport News, Birth Country: United States. Accessed March 19, 2022. http://www.ellafitzgerald.com/about/biography. Fitzgerald spent two weeks performing in New York with Frank Sinatra and Count Basie in 1974 and was inducted into the. On June 16, 1939, Ella mourned the loss of her mentor Chick Webb. [58], Fitzgerald had diabetes for several years of her later life, which had led to numerous complications. Her audiences were as diverse as her vocal range. Fitzgerald and Browns busy schedules took a toll on their relationship with their son and their marriage. Norman felt that I should do other things, so he produced Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book with me. [13] When the authorities caught up with her, she was placed in the Colored Orphan Asylum in Riverdale in the Bronx. [89], In 2019, Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things, a documentary by Leslie Woodhead, was released in the UK. One in particular opened doors for her. After taking over the band when Webb died, Fitzgerald left it behind in 1942 to start her solo career.
Ella Fitzgerald | Biography, Music, & Facts | Britannica They wed in 1941, but she soon had their union annulled. Ella Fitzgerald. National Womens History Museum.
CCNY awards junior Sara Molano its first Ella Fitzgerald Scholarship Ed Dwight created a series of over 70 bronze sculptures at the St. Louis Arch Museum at the request of the National Park Service; the series, "Jazz: An American Art Form", depicts the evolution of jazz and features various jazz performers, including Fitzgerald. Ella Fitzgerald's Tweets. Ella would be so happy to learn about the brilliant students who are our ELLA FITZGERALD MEMORIAL SCHOLARS. Sinatra's 1986 recording of "Mack the Knife" from his album L.A. Is My Lady (1984) includes a homage to some of the song's previous performers, including 'Lady Ella' herself. They lived there with her mother's boyfriend, Joseph Da Silva. It celebrated what would have been her 96th birthday. Fitzgerald also made her film debut as Ruby in 1942's comedy western Ride 'Em Cowboy with Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. Ella Fitzgerald, November 1946. In 1997, Newport News, Virginia created a week-long music festival with Christopher Newport University to honor Fitzgerald in her birth city. [65] Her second marriage was in December 1947, to the famous bass player Ray Brown, whom she had met while on tour with Dizzy Gillespie's band a year earlier. Since her passing, Fitzgerald has been honored and remembered in many ways. Forgive me if I don't have all the words. [6], Starting in third grade, Fitzgerald loved dancing and admired Earl Snakehips Tucker. [10] Her stepfather took care of her until April 1933 when she moved to Harlem to live with her aunt. We are pleased to announce a new Ella Fitzgerald Scholar, Yancy Garcia. Fitzgerald also faced racial discrimination while on tour. In his absence the band was renamed Ella Fitzgerald and Her Famous Band, and she took on the overwhelming task of bandleader. Upon learning that Kornegay had a criminal history, Ella realized that the relationship was a mistake and had the marriage annulled. On the touring circuit it was well-known that Ellas manager felt very strongly about civil rights and required equal treatment for his musicians, regardless of their color. Ella Fitzgerald, known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an immensely popular American jazz and song vocalist who interpreted much of the Great American Songbook. [72] Although she faced several obstacles and racial barriers, she was recognized as a "cultural ambassador", receiving the National Medal of Arts in 1987 and America's highest non-military honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Ella went to the theater that night planning to dance, but when the frenzied Edwards Sisters closed the main show, Ella changed her mind. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back.
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