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Who Was Ella Fitzgerald?
Ella Fitzgerald emerged from a challenging childhood to become one of the most celebrated jazz singers of all time. Her journey to stardom began with her debut at the Apollo Theater in 1934, where she was discovered during an amateur contest. Over the decades, Fitzgerald earned the distinction of being the premier female jazz vocalist, known for her remarkable vocal quality, precise intonation, and extensive range. In 1958, she made history as the first African American woman to win a Grammy Award, a testament to her exceptional talent. Ultimately, Fitzgerald won a total of 13 Grammy Awards and sold more than 40 million albums. Her multi-volume “songbooks” released on Verve Records are considered some of America’s greatest musical treasures.
Early Years
Born on April 25, 1917, in Newport News, Virginia, Ella Fitzgerald was the daughter of William Fitzgerald and Temperance “Tempie” Williams Fitzgerald. Her childhood was marked by adversity, beginning with her parents’ separation shortly after her birth. Following this, she relocated with her mother to Yonkers, New York, where they lived with her mother’s boyfriend, Joseph Da Silva. The family dynamic changed further in 1923 with the birth of Fitzgerald’s half-sister, Frances.
Financial struggles forced the young Fitzgerald to contribute to the household by taking on various jobs, including acting as a messenger and lookout for a local brothel. Despite these challenges, she initially aspired to become a dancer. After her mother’s untimely death in 1932, Fitzgerald was placed in the care of an aunt but began skipping school. Her behavior led to her brief enrollment in a reform school, from which she did not stay long.
By 1934, determined to pursue a career in entertainment, Fitzgerald found herself living on the streets yet still held on to her dreams. She entered an amateur contest at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, where she captivated the audience with her performances of Hoagy Carmichael’s “Judy” and “The Object of My Affection.” Her talent shone through, earning her the contest’s $25 first-place prize and marking the beginning of her illustrious career.
Early Career
Ella Fitzgerald’s unexpected performance at the Apollo Theater served as a pivotal moment in her career, propelling her into the spotlight. Shortly thereafter, she connected with bandleader and drummer Chick Webb, ultimately joining his ensemble as a singer. In 1935, Fitzgerald recorded “Love and Kisses” with Webb, quickly becoming a regular performer at the renowned Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. Her career continued to gain momentum with the release of 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 to her work with Webb, Fitzgerald collaborated with the Benny Goodman Orchestra and launched her own side project, “Ella Fitzgerald and Her Savoy Eight.” Following Webb’s passing in 1939, Fitzgerald assumed leadership of the band, which was renamed “Ella Fitzgerald and Her Famous Orchestra,” although some sources refer to it as “Ella Fitzgerald and Her Famous Band.” During this period, Fitzgerald experienced a brief marriage to Ben Kornegay, a convicted drug dealer, in 1941, which was subsequently annulled.
Rising Star
Striking out on her own, Fitzgerald secured a recording contract with Decca Records, where she produced several hit songs alongside the Ink Spots and Louis Jordan in the early 1940s. Her film debut occurred in 1942 as Ruby in the comedy western Ride ‘Em Cowboy, featuring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. However, it was in 1946 that her career truly began to flourish when she started collaborating with Norman Granz, who would later establish Verve Records.
In the mid-1940s, Granz initiated the Jazz at the Philharmonic concert series, showcasing many of jazz’s greatest talents. Fitzgerald hired Granz as her manager during this period and toured with Dizzy Gillespie and his band, where she began to refine her vocal style, incorporating scat singing into her performances.
Fitzgerald also developed a romantic relationship with Gillespie’s bassist, Ray Brown. The couple married in 1947 and adopted a child born to Fitzgerald’s half-sister, naming him Raymond “Ray” Brown Jr. Their marriage ended in 1952.
First Lady of Song
The 1950s and 1960s marked a significant era of both critical and commercial success for Fitzgerald, earning her the title “First Lady of Song” due to her widespread popularity and exceptional vocal abilities. Her distinctive talent for mimicking instrumental sounds contributed to the popularity of vocal improvisation, particularly through her signature scat singing. In 1956, Fitzgerald began recording for the newly established Verve Records, producing some of her most beloved albums, including Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book.
At the inaugural Grammy Awards in 1958, Fitzgerald made history by becoming the first African American woman to win a Grammy, securing two awards for Best Individual Jazz Performance and Best Female Vocal Performance for her work on Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book and Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Song Book, respectively. She collaborated directly with Ellington on the former project.
Fitzgerald’s collaborative spirit led to successful recordings with legendary artists such as Louis Armstrong and Count Basie, and she performed alongside Frank Sinatra on numerous occasions. In 1960, her rendition of “Mack the Knife” achieved significant commercial success, and she continued to captivate audiences well into the 1970s, including a memorable concert series in New York City in 1974 with Sinatra and Basie.
Later Years and Death
By the 1980s, Ella Fitzgerald faced significant health challenges. In 1986, she underwent heart surgery, and her struggle with diabetes ultimately led to blindness. Complications from the disease resulted in the amputation of both her legs in 1994.
Fitzgerald’s final recording took place in 1989, and she made her last public appearance in 1991 at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She passed away on June 15, 1996, at her home in Beverly Hills.
Throughout her illustrious career, Fitzgerald recorded over 200 albums and approximately 2,000 songs, amassing total record sales exceeding 40 million. Her remarkable achievements were recognized with numerous accolades, including 13 Grammy Awards, the NAACP Image Award for Lifetime Achievement, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Although some critics argued that her style and voice lacked the emotional depth of her more blues-oriented contemporaries, Fitzgerald’s immense success and the respect she commanded from industry giants demonstrated her unique standing in the world of music. Mel Tormé referred to her as “the High Priestess of Song,” while Pearl Bailey called her “the greatest singer of them all.” Bing Crosby also praised her, stating, “Man, woman, or child, Ella is the greatest of them all.”
Since her passing, Fitzgerald’s legacy has been celebrated in various ways. The United States Postal Service honored her with a commemorative stamp to mark the 90th anniversary of her birth. In the same year, the tribute album We All Love Ella: Celebrating the First Lady of Song featured performances of Fitzgerald’s classics by notable artists such as Gladys Knight, Etta James, and Queen Latifah.