Net worth | $4.6 million |
---|---|
Full Name | Ella Jane Fitzgerald |
Birthdate | 25th April 1917 |
Birthplace | Newport News, Virginia, United States |
Deathdate | 15th June 1996 |
Place of death | Beverly Hills, California, United States |
Occupation | Singer |
Years active | 1929–1995 |
Nationality | American |
Zodiac sign | Taurus |
Ethnicity | African American and Irish |
Religion | Christianity |
Known for | Her wide vocal range, impeccable diction, phrasing, and timing |
Awards | 13 Grammy Awards, Kennedy Center Honor, and National Medal of Arts |
Introduction
In the sultry realms of American jazz, there exists a voice that transcends mere melody, a talent that shatters the boundaries of time and space to touch the very soul of music itself. Imagine a world where every note is a shimmering jewel, every lyric a brushstroke on the canvas of the heart. In this realm of musical enchantment, there emerges a luminary, a luminescent star—Ella Fitzgerald, the embodiment of elegance, grace, and sonic magic.
Often hailed as the “First Lady of Song,” Ella Fitzgerald’s mesmerizing voice wove dreams into sound, enchanting generations with her timeless artistry. With every sultry croon, she etched her name in the annals of music history, earning titles like the “Queen of Jazz” and “Lady Ella.” Her voice was not just a melody; it was a force of nature, a cascading waterfall of emotion that left audiences spellbound.
Join me on a journey through Ella’s enchanting life and music, as we uncover the secrets behind the legend, the story behind the voice that forever changed the landscape of jazz.
Early Life and Education
In the sultry heart of Newport News, Virginia, Ella Fitzgerald’s musical journey began on April 25, 1917. Born to the harmonious union of William Fitzgerald and Temperance “Tempie” Henry, her life unfolded like a jazz ballad, with notes of hardship and resilience.
Despite their unmarried status, Ella’s early years witnessed the symphony of her parents’ love. As time waltzed on, they moved to Yonkers, New York, where Ella found her half-sister and embraced the vibrant Italian rhythm of School Street.
The Bethany African Methodist Episcopal Church served as her first stage, where faith intertwined with music. With the soulful sway of Earl Snakehips Tucker and the echoes of jazz legends like Louis Armstrong and Bing Crosby, Ella’s passion took flight. The Boswell Sisters, led by Connee Boswell, ignited her desire to emulate their sultry sound.
Yet, life was not all music and melodies. A tragic car accident claimed her mother’s life when Ella was just 15. She sought refuge with her aunt in Harlem, concealing a past shrouded in rumors of mistreatment.
Through struggles and silence, Ella’s resilience flourished, leading her down a winding path to becoming the “First Lady of Song.” Her unique journey, a tapestry of hardship, and soaring talent paved the way for her iconic voice to resonate across the world.
Career and Work
Albums | |
Year | Work |
1950 | Ella Sings Gershwin |
1954 | Songs in a Mellow Mood |
1954 | Lullabies of Birdland |
1955 | For Sentimental Reasons |
1955 | Miss Ella Fitzgerald & Mr Gordon Jenkins Invite You to Listen and Relax |
1955 | Sweet and Hot |
1955 | Songs from Pete Kelly’s Blues |
1956 | The Cole Porter Song Book |
1956 | Ella and Louis |
1956 | The Rodgers & Hart Song Book |
1957 | Ella and Louis Again |
1957 | The Duke Ellington Song Book |
1957 | Ella and Her Fellas |
1957 | Like Someone in Love |
1957 | One O’Clock Jump |
1958 | Ella Swings Lightly |
1958 | Miss Ella Fitzgerald & Mr. Gordon Jenkins Invite You to Listen and Relax |
1959 | Porgy and Bess |
1959 | Hello, Love |
1959 | Get Happy! |
1959 | Sweet Songs for Swingers |
1959 | The George and Ira Gershwin Song Book |
1960 | Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas |
1960 | “Let No Man Write My Epitaph” |
1961 | The Harold Arlen Songbook |
1961 | Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! |
1962 | Rhythm Is My Business |
1962 | Ella Swings Brightly with Nelson |
1962 | Ella Swings Gently with Nelson |
1963 | Ella Sings Broadway |
1963 | The Jerome Kern Song Book |
1963 | Ella and Basie! |
1963 | These Are the Blues |
1963 | On the Sunny Side of the Street |
1964 | Hello, Dolly! |
1964 | The Johnny Mercer Song Book |
1965 | Ella at Duke’s Place |
1966 | Whisper Not |
1967 | Brighten the Corner |
1967 | Ella Fitzgerald’s Christmas |
1968 | 30 By Ella |
1968 | Misty Blue |
1969 | Ella |
1970 | Things Ain’t What They Used to Be |
1972 | Ella Loves Cole |
1973 | Take Love Easy |
1975 | Ella and Oscar |
1976 | Fitzgerald and Pass… Again |
1978 | Lady Time |
1978 | Dream Dancing |
1979 | Fine and Mellow |
1979 | A Classy Pair |
1981 | Ella Abraça Jobim |
1982 | The Best Is Yet to Come |
1983 | Speak Love |
1983 | Nice Work If You Can Get It |
1986 | Easy Living |
1989 | All That Jazz |
1989 | The Intimate Ella |
1958 | Jazz At The Hollywood Bowl |
1958 | Holiday At Newport |
1958 | Ella At The Opera House |
1960 | Ella In Berlin: Mack The Knife |
1961 | Ella In Hollywood |
1964 | Ella At Juan-Les-Pins |
1965 | Ella In Hamburg |
1966 | Duke & Ella In Concerto |
1966 | Ella At The Cote D’Azur |
1968 | Sunshine Of Your Love |
1972 | J.A.T.P. In Tokyo |
1972 | Jazz At Santa Monica Civic ’72 |
1973 | Newport Jazz Festiva |
1974 | Ella In London |
1974 | Her Orchestra |
1975 | Ella Fitzgerald |
1977 | Montreux ’77 |
1979 | Digital III At Montreux |
1979 | A Perfect Match |
1982 | Ella À Nice |
1983 | Return To Happiness |
1984 | The Stockholm Concert, 1966 |
1988 | Ella In Rome: The Birthday Concert |
1990 | The Greatest Jazz Concert In The World |
1991 | Ella Returns To Berlin |
1996 | Mack The Knife |
1999 | Trio |
1999 | Live |
2001 | Ella In Budapest |
2007 | Sophisticated Lady |
Songs | |
Year | Name |
1936 | “All My Life” |
1936 | “Sing Me a Swing Song” |
1936 | “My Melancholy Baby” |
1936 | If You Can’t Sing It, You’ll Have To Swing It” |
1937 | “Goodnight My Love” |
1937 | “Dedicated to You” |
1937 | “Big Boy Blue” |
1937 | “If You Ever Should Leave” |
1937 | “All Over Nothing At All” |
1938 | “Rock It for Me” |
1938 | “I Got a Guy” |
1938 | “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” |
1938 | “I Found My Yellow Basket” |
1938 | “Wacky Dust” |
1938 | “MacPherson Is Rehearsin’ to Swing” |
1938 | “F.D.R. Jones” |
1939 | “Undecided” |
1939 | “T’ain’t What You Do |
1939 | “Chew, Chew, Chew |
1939 | “I Want the Waiter |
1939 | “My Wubba Dolly” |
1940 | “The Starlit Hour” |
1940 | “Sing Song Swing” |
1940 | “Imagination” |
1940 | “Sugar Blues” |
1940 | “Shake Down the Stars” |
1940 | “Five O’Clock Whistle” |
1941 | “Louisville K.Y.” |
1941 | “Hello Ma! I Done It Again” |
1941 | “The Muffin Man” |
1943 | “My Heart and I Decided” |
1944 | “Cow-Cow Boogie” |
1944 | “When My Sugar Walks Down the Street” |
1944 | “Once Too Often” |
1944 | “I’m Making Believe” |
1944 | The Irving Berlin Songbook |
1945 | “And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine” |
1945 | “I’m Beginning to See the Light” |
1945 | “It’s Only a Paper Moon” |
1946 | “The Frim Fram Sauce” |
1946 | “You Won’t Be Satisfied |
1946 | “Stone Cold Dead in the Market |
1946 | “Into Each Life, Some Rain Must Fall” |
1946 | “(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons” |
1947 | “That’s My Desire” |
1947 | “Guilty” |
1948 | “My Happiness” |
1948 | “Tea Leaves” |
1948 | “It’s Too Soon to Know” |
1949 | “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” |
1950 | “Can Anyone Explain (No, No, No)” |
1950 | “I’ll Never Be Free” |
1951 | “Smooth Sailing” |
1952 | “Trying” |
1952 | “Walkin’ By the River” |
1953 | “Crying in the Chapel” |
1954 | “Melancholy Me” |
1954 | “I Need” |
1956 | “A Beautiful Friendship” |
1958 | “The Swinging Shepherd Blues” |
1959 | “But Not for Me” |
1960 | “Mack the Knife” |
1960 | “How High the Moon (Part 1)” |
1961 | “Mr. Paganini (You’ll Have to Swing It)” |
1962 | “Desafinado (Slightly Out of Tune)” |
1962 | “Stardust Bossa Nova” |
1963 | “Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home” |
1964 | “Hello, Dolly!” |
1964 | “Can’t Buy Me Love” |
1965 | “Ringo Beat” |
1968 | “I Taught Him Everything He Knows” |
1969 | “Get Ready” |
Net Worth
Year | Net Worth |
1994 | $4.4 million |
1995 | $4.5 million |
1996 | $4.6 million |
Family and Relationship
Relation | Name |
Father | William Fitzgerald |
Mother | Tempie Henry |
Siblings | N/A |
Spouse | Benny Kornegay (1941-1942), Ray Brown (1947-1953) |
Children | Ray Brown Jr. |
Achievements and Awards
Achievements and Awards |
13 Grammy Awards |
Kennedy Center Honor |
National Medal of Arts |
Recorded over 200 albums |
Sold over 40 million records |
Quick Facts
- Her mother died when she was 15 years old, and she dropped out of school to help support her family.
- She recorded over 200 albums and won 13 Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award.
- She was a civil rights activist and used her platform to speak out against racism and discrimination.
- She began her singing career in the early 1930s, and she quickly became one of the most popular jazz singers in the world.
- She was the first African-American woman to claim a Grammy Award.
FAQs
Q: What was Ella Fitzgerald’s vocal range?
A: She had a vocal range of three octaves, from G2 to G5. She was known for her ability to sing effortlessly across her entire range.
Q: What is Ella Fitzgerald’s most famous song?
A: Her most famous song is probably “A-Tisket, A-Tasket,” which she recorded in 1938. However, she had many other hits throughout her career, such as “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” “How High the Moon,” “Summertime,” and “Cheek to Cheek.”
Q: What was Ella Fitzgerald’s nickname?
A: Her nickname was “The First Lady of Song.” She was given this nickname because of her talent and her status as one of the most popular jazz singers of all time.
Q: What are some of Ella Fitzgerald’s awards and honors?
A: She won 13 Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award. She was also the holder of the Kennedy Center Honor and the National Medal of Arts.
Q: What was Ella Fitzgerald’s impact on music?
A: She was one of the most influential jazz singers of all time. She is credited with helping to popularize the genre and with inspiring many other singers.