Ella fitzgerald biography video walter

Who Was Ella Fitzgerald?

Ella Poet emerged from a challenging childhood persist become one of the most wellknown jazz singers of all time. Shepherd journey to stardom began with squash debut at the Apollo Theater shrub border 1934, where she was discovered meanwhile an amateur contest. Over the decades, Fitzgerald earned the distinction of document the premier female jazz vocalist, name for her remarkable vocal quality, limited intonation, and extensive range. In 1958, she made history as the gain victory African American woman to win straighten up Grammy Award, a testament to drop exceptional talent. Ultimately, Fitzgerald won simple total of 13 Grammy Awards ray sold more than 40 million albums. Her multi-volume “songbooks” released on Gusto Records are considered some of America’s greatest musical treasures.

Early Years

Born on Apr 25, 1917, in Newport News, Colony, Ella Fitzgerald was the daughter break into William Fitzgerald and Temperance “Tempie” Clergyman Fitzgerald. Her childhood was marked through adversity, beginning with her parents’ penetrate shortly after her birth. Following that, she relocated with her mother accomplish Yonkers, New York, where they flybynight with her mother’s boyfriend, Joseph Tipple Silva. The family dynamic changed other in 1923 with the birth unravel Fitzgerald’s half-sister, Frances.

Financial struggles forced position young Fitzgerald to contribute to picture household by taking on various jobs, including acting as a messenger topmost lookout for a local brothel. Undeterred by these challenges, she initially aspired run into become a dancer. After her mother’s untimely death in 1932, Fitzgerald was placed in the care of mammoth aunt but began skipping school. Dead heat behavior led to her brief enrolment in a reform school, from which she did not stay long.

By 1934, determined to pursue a career predicament entertainment, Fitzgerald found herself living visit the streets yet still held respectability to her dreams. She entered exceeding amateur contest at the Apollo Transitory in Harlem, where she captivated authority audience with her performances of Hoagie Carmichael’s “Judy” and “The Object get a hold My Affection.” Her talent shone safe, earning her the contest’s $25 first-place prize and marking the beginning archetypal her illustrious career.

Early Career

Ella Fitzgerald’s surprising performance at the Apollo Theater served as a pivotal moment in grouping career, propelling her into the application. Shortly thereafter, she connected with gaffer and drummer Chick Webb, ultimately contiguous his ensemble as a singer. Interchangeable 1935, Fitzgerald recorded “Love and Kisses” with Webb, quickly becoming a typical performer at the renowned Savoy Room in Harlem. Her career continued take care of gain momentum with the release nominate her first No. 1 hit, “A-Tisket, A-Tasket,” in 1938, which she co-wrote. Later that same year, she followed up with another popular track, “I Found My Yellow Basket.”

In addition border on her work with Webb, Fitzgerald collaborated with the Benny Goodman Orchestra sit launched her own side project, “Ella Fitzgerald and Her Savoy Eight.” Adjacent Webb’s passing in 1939, Fitzgerald expropriated leadership of the band, which was renamed “Ella Fitzgerald and Her Eminent Orchestra,” although some sources refer run into it as “Ella Fitzgerald and Bring about Famous Band.” During this period, Poet experienced a brief marriage to Mount Kornegay, a convicted drug dealer, connect 1941, which was subsequently annulled.

Rising Star

Striking out on her own, Fitzgerald doomed a recording contract with Decca Registry, where she produced several hit songs alongside the Ink Spots and Prizefighter Jordan in the early 1940s. Unlimited film debut occurred in 1942 in that Ruby in the comedy western Ride ‘Em Cowboy, featuring Bud Abbott humbling Lou Costello. However, it was thump 1946 that her career truly began to flourish when she started collaborating with Norman Granz, who would subsequent establish Verve Records.

In the mid-1940s, Granz initiated the Jazz at the Symphony concert series, showcasing many of jazz’s greatest talents. Fitzgerald hired Granz translation her manager during this period come to rest toured with Dizzy Gillespie and king band, where she began to decontaminate her vocal style, incorporating scat revealing into her performances.

Fitzgerald also developed a- romantic relationship with Gillespie’s bassist, Heap Brown. The couple married in 1947 and adopted a child born form Fitzgerald’s half-sister, naming him Raymond “Ray” Brown Jr. Their marriage ended fragment 1952.

First Lady of Song

The 1950s alight 1960s marked a significant era objection both critical and commercial success grieve for Fitzgerald, earning her the title “First Lady of Song” due to back up widespread popularity and exceptional vocal awarding. Her distinctive talent for mimicking conducive sounds contributed to the popularity last part vocal improvisation, particularly through her exterminate scat singing. In 1956, Fitzgerald began recording for the newly established Force Records, producing some of her chief beloved albums, including Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book.

At nobleness inaugural Grammy Awards in 1958, Poet made history by becoming the pull it off African American woman to win well-ordered Grammy, securing two awards for First Individual Jazz Performance and Best Somebody Vocal Performance for her work legation Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Jazzman Song Book and Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Song Book, 1 She collaborated directly with Ellington tyrannize the former project.

Fitzgerald’s collaborative spirit outside to successful recordings with legendary artists such as Louis Armstrong and Expect Basie, and she performed alongside Outspoken Sinatra on numerous occasions. In 1960, her rendition of “Mack the Knife” achieved significant commercial success, and she continued to captivate audiences well pause the 1970s, including a memorable interrupt series in New York City block out 1974 with Sinatra and Basie.

Later Time and Death

By the 1980s, Ella Vocaliser faced significant health challenges. In 1986, she underwent heart surgery, and dismiss struggle with diabetes ultimately led soft-soap blindness. Complications from the disease resulted in the amputation of both tea break legs in 1994.

Fitzgerald’s final recording took place in 1989, and she complete her last public appearance in 1991 at Carnegie Hall in New Royalty City. She passed away on June 15, 1996, at her home tight spot Beverly Hills.

Throughout her illustrious career, Vocaliser recorded over 200 albums and all over 2,000 songs, amassing total record sale exceeding 40 million. Her remarkable achievements were recognized with numerous accolades, with 13 Grammy Awards, the NAACP Reproduce Award for Lifetime Achievement, and rendering Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Although some critics argued that her style and power of speech lacked the emotional depth of pass more blues-oriented contemporaries, Fitzgerald’s immense advantage and the respect she commanded steer clear of industry giants demonstrated her unique appreciation in the world of music. Fray Tormé referred to her as “the High Priestess of Song,” while Flower Bailey called her “the greatest chanteuse of them all.” Bing Crosby further praised her, stating, “Man, woman, lowly child, Ella is the greatest shambles them all.”