April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996
Ella Fitzgerald
"The First Lady of Song"
Discovered at Harlem's Apollo Theater at age 17 when a lucky draw pulled her name for Amateur Night. Planned to dance, terrified by the Edwards Sisters' performance, she sang instead—and brought down the house.
Legacy of the First Lady
On November 21, 1934, seventeen-year-old Ella's name was pulled from a hat at the Apollo Theater's Amateur Night. She sang "Judy" and brought down the house.
Within months, she joined Chick Webb's orchestra at the Savoy Ballroom. In 1938, she recorded "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" which sold one million copies.
Between 1956 and 1964, Fitzgerald recorded eight legendary "Songbook" albums for Verve Records. These were among the first pop records to devote serious attention to individual composers.
Ella pioneered scat singing—using her voice as a horn instrument. Frank Sinatra called her "the greatest singer in the world."
In 1955, Marilyn Monroe used her star power to break the color barrier at the Mocambo nightclub in Los Angeles, promising to sit in the front row every night if they would book Ella.
Ella received the Presidential Medal of Freedom—America's highest civilian honor.