Ella Fitzgerald

American jazz singer

Photo by: Carl Van Vechten · Public Domain · Wikimedia Commons

Born:April 25, 1917

Died:June 15, 1996

Age at death:79

Manner of death:Natural Causes

Cause of death:Stroke

Zodiac Sign:Taurus

Born in:Newport News, United States

Residence:St. Albans, United States

Buried in:United States

Languages:American English, English

Composer Recording Artist Musician Singer-songwriter Jazz Singer Jazz Musician Conductor Film Actor Lyricist Bandleader Singer

Signature

Related People

Bandmate: Louis Armstrong

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Photo credits (2)

Ella Fitzgerald:
Photo by: Carl Van Vechten · Public Domain · Wikimedia Commons
Louis Armstrong:
Photo by: World-Telegram staff photographer · Public Domain · Wikimedia Commons

Links

Wikipedia Official Website IMDb Facebook YouTube

Famous For

Movies & TV

American MastersPete Kelly's BluesRide 'Em CowboyLet No Man Write My EpitaphSt. Louis Blues

Songs & Albums

After You've GoneAll the Things You AreLullaby of BirdlandElla and LouisBut Not for Me

Awards

National Women's Hall of Fame (1995)Presidential Medal of Freedom (1992)NEA Jazz Masters (1985)Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year (1982)Kennedy Center Honors (1979)

Ella Fitzgerald

American jazz singer

Biography

Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996) was an American jazz vocalist, songwriter and composer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, intonation, and a "horn-like" improvisational ability, particularly in her scat singing. After a tumultuous adolescence, Fitzgerald found stability in musical success with the Chick Webb Orchestra, performing across the country but most often associated with the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. Her rendition of the nursery rhyme "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" helped boost both her and Webb to national fame. After taking over the band when Webb died in 1939, Fitzgerald left it behind in 1942 to start her solo career. Fitzgerald's manager was Moe Gale, co-founder of the Savoy, until she turned the rest of her career over to Norman Granz, who founded Verve Records to produce new records by Fitzgerald. With Verve, Fitzgerald recorded some of her more widely noted works, particularly her interpretations of the Great American Songbook. Fitzgerald also appeared in films and as a guest on popular television shows in the second half of the twentieth century. Outside her solo career, Fitzgerald created music with Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and The Ink Spots. These partnerships produced 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)". In 1993, after a career of nearly 60 years, Fitzgerald gave her last public performance. Three years later, Fitzgerald died at age 79 after years of declining health. Her accolades included 14 Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts, the NAACP's inaugural President's Award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

This biography uses content from the Wikipedia article “Ella Fitzgerald”, available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License.

Photos

Kodachrome photo of Ella Fitzgerald taken by Carl Van Vechten. Since his photos are in the public domain and the Van Vechten trust allows use of them since they are no longer copyrightable, they are allowed for use on Wikipedia

Kodachrome image of Ella Fitzgerald taken on 19 January 1940 by Carl Van Vechten

Portrait of Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Brown, Milt (Milton) Jackson, and Timme Rosenkrantz, Downbeat, New York, N.Y.

President Ronald Reagan with Ella Fitzgerald after her performance for King Juan Carlos I of Spain in the White House East Room.

Collectie / Archief : Fotocollectie Anefo Reportage / Serie : [ onbekend ] Beschrijving : Aankomst Ella Fitzgerald en Oscar Peterson op Schiphol. Ella Fitzgerald met bloemen Datum : 24 april 1964 Locatie : Noord-Holland, Schiphol Trefwoorden : aankomsten, jazz, muziek, pianisten, zangeressen Persoonsnaam : Fitzgerald Ella, Peterson, Oscar Fotograaf : Gelderen, Hugo van / Anefo Auteursrechthebbende : Nationaal Archief Materiaalsoort : Negatief (zwart/wit) Nummer archiefinventaris : bekijk toegang 2.24.01.03 Bestanddeelnummer : 916-3489

Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Brown, Milt Jackson, and Timme Rosenkrantz, Downbeat, New York, N.Y., ca. Sept. 1947 (William P. Gottlieb).

Ella Fitzgerald, November 1946. Photography by William P. Gottlieb.

Collectie / Archief : Fotocollectie Anefo Reportage / Serie : [ onbekend ] Beschrijving : Jazz-zangeres Ella Fitzgerald uit VS in ons land voor concert in Amsterdam, Ella Fitzgerald tijdens aankomst Schiphol op speciaal karretje Datum : 29 oktober 1980 Locatie : Noord-Holland, Schiphol Trefwoorden : aankomsten, zangeressen Persoonsnaam : Ella Fitzgerald Fotograaf : Antonisse, Marcel / Anefo Auteursrechthebbende : Nationaal Archief Materiaalsoort : Negatief (zwart/wit) Nummer archiefinventaris : bekijk toegang 2.24.01.05 Bestanddeelnummer : 931-1161