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BIOGRAPHY
Ella Fitzgerald
The story of ‘The First Lady of Song’
“Music comes out of her. When she walks down the street, she leaves notes.” — Pianist Jimmy Rowles
Ella Fitzgerald wanted to be a dancer, but blessed with perfect pitch and a three-octave range, it seems the universe had other plans. As a singer, she revolutionized vocal technique. She could seamlessly change tempo, improvise, and lead a band with impeccable rhythmic skill. Her tone was so pure, musicians could tune their instruments to it.
As a person, Ella was sweet and gracious. Orphaned and homeless as a teenager, she endured heartbreak, abuse, and racism, and was often derided for her looks. A shy woman, at times unable to find her words, she sang them instead, and became an iconic jazz legend, selling 40 million records worldwide.
“It isn’t where you came from, it’s where you’re going that counts.” — Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald was born April 25th, 1917, in Newport News, Virginia. Her parents, Tempie and William, split up soon after, and her mother took her to live in New York. She grew up in Yonkers with her Portuguese stepfather, Jose Da Silva, and half-sister, Frances. Her mother worked in a laundromat, while Jose was a laborer and chauffeur. To bring some extra money in, a naive young Ella would ‘run numbers’ for…
