KWXY Presents ● Music and a Classic Conversation with Ella Fitzgerald
Portrait of Ella Fitzgerald, New York, N.Y., Nov. 1946 / Library of Congress - photographer / William P. Gottlieb
Ella Fitzgerald was a jazz singer often referred to as “The First Lady of Song.” With a career spanning nearly sixty years, she was the most popular female jazz singer in the US. With an incredible vocal tone along with equally incredible intonation and control, Fitzgerald performed with the other jazz greats of her era, including Nat “King” Cole, Count Basie, Frank Sinatra and Dizzy Gillespie, among others.
She was born Ella Jane Fitzgerald in Newport News, Virginia on April 25, 1917 to William and Temperance “Tempie” Fitzgerald. The couple soon split up; Fitzgerald and her mother moved to Yonkers, New York soon after. Fitzgerald made friends easily and was something of a tomboy growing up. She also enjoyed dancing and singing, often taking a train to Harlem with her friends to watch show at the Apollo Theater. She cited Connee Boswell of The Boswell Sisters as an early influence after her mother came home with a Boswell Sisters record.
Her musical success began as a vocalist with the Chick Webb Orchestra, with her swing recording of “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” bringing them to national prominence. She left the band in 1942 after Webb’s death to pursue a solo career. As a soloist, Fitzgerald collaborated with such acts as Louis Armstrong, The Ink Spots and Duke Ellington. Fitzgerald later became popular as a television guest and movie star. Her most notable screen role came in 1955 in the Jack Webb film, Pete Kelly’s Blues with costars Janet Leigh and Peggy Lee. Television work included appearances on The Andy Williams Show, The Carol Burnett Show and The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom. She also did television commercials with her most memorable being an ad for Memorex recording tape. In it, she sang a note which shattered a glass; the recording broke a glass as well. She also appeared in ads for Kentucky Fried Chicken with her last campaign being for American Express.
Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Brown, Milt (Milton) Jackson, and Timmie Rosenkrantz, Downbeat, New York, N.Y., ca. Sept. 1947 / Library of Congress photo William P. Gottlieb
Ella Fitzgerald passed away on June 15, 1996 at age 79 in Beverly Hills, California from a stroke. Diabetes cost her both legs which were amputated below the knee as well as costing her eyesight. She is buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.
Ella Fitzgerald Was and Is an American Music Legend. During her career, she recorded more than two hundred albums and was the recipient of fourteen Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Ella’s contribution to American history lives on in her music, and through the inspiration to others.
Listen to Music and a Classic Interview with Ella Fitzgerald on The Wink Martindale Show today at 1pm on KWXY Music Radio 92.3FM ● 1340AM ● streaming at kwxy.com and ivoxradio.com