Ella Fitzgerald

Singer

Birthplace: Newport News, VA  (1918-1978)

Ella Jane Fitzgerald was born in Newport News, Virginia on April 25, 1917. Her father, William, and mother, Temperance (Tempie), parted ways shortly afterward.

Tempie and Ella went to Yonkers, New York, where they eventually moved in with Tempie's longtime boyfriend Joseph Da Silva. Ella's half-sister, Frances, was born in 1923, and soon she began referring to Joe as her stepfather. 
 When she was 15 years old, she entered a talent contest at the Harlem Opera House.  She intended to sing and dance, but when she saw the audience, she became nervous.  She decided to just sing instead.  She was so awkwardly dressed when she came out the audience thought she was being funnay and laughed at her. When she began to sing "The object of My Affection the audience fell silent.  She received three encores and when it was all said and done she had won the prize.

This was the first contest of many that Ella Fitzgerald would win.  She once entered a contest at the Apollo Theater in New York.  She sang three songs and won $50.00.  Chick Webb, a famous jazz drummer, was in the audience that night looking for a new singer forhis band.  When he heard Ella sing he hired her on the spot.

Fitzgerald composed her most famous song with Chick Webb - "A Tisket, A Tasket" - based on an old nursery rhyme.  As a result of that song, Ella Fitzgerald became a superstar.  In the years that followed, Ella composed and wrote songs for famous musicians such as Duke Ellington and Nat King cole.

In 1939 Chick Webb dies.  Ella left the band to try to make it on her own.  Nearly 50 years after her first performance, Fitzgerald had performed all over the world.  She received twelve Grammy Awards and numerous other honors

In September of 1986, Ella underwent quintuple coronary bypass surgery. Doctors also replaced a valve in her heart and diagnosed her with diabetes, which they blamed for her failing eyesight. The press carried rumors that she would never be able to sing again, but Ella proved them wrong. Despite protests by family and friends, including Norman, Ella returned to the stage and pushed on with an exhaustive schedule.

By the 1990s, Ella had recorded over 200 albums. In 1991, she gave her final concert at New York's renowned Carnegie Hall. It was the 26th time she performed there.

As the effects from her diabetes worsened, 76-year-old Ella experienced severe circulatory problems and was forced to have both of her legs amputated below the knees. She never fully recovered from the surgery, and afterward, was rarely able to perform. During this time, Ella enjoyed sitting outside in her backyard, and spending time with Ray, Jr. and her granddaughter Alice. "I just want to smell the air, listen to the birds and hear Alice laugh," she said.

On June 15, 1996, Ella Fitzgerald died in her Beverly Hills home.

Related Site:

Ella Fitzgerald Official Site

Jazz a Film by Ken Burns

Buy Music By Ella Fizgerald