Ella Fitzgerald turned to singing after a troubled childhood and debuted at the Apollo Theater in 1934. Discovered in an
amateur contest
, she went on to become the top female jazz singer for decades. In 1958, Fitzgerald made history as the first African American woman to win a Grammy Award.
How did Ella Fitzgerald influence other musicians?
Her interest in Ella comes among a broad range of other classic influences. “
Eva Cassidy is
my absolute idol,” she added. “I'm also hugely inspired by Freddie Mercury from Queen – his singing is amazing, his delivery was really flawless,” she added. “People who inspire my songwriting are Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan.”
What did Ella Fitzgerald contribute to music?
Ella Fitzgerald was one of the great voices of jazz. Throughout her career spanning over five decades, she contributed to defining different styles,
such as swing and bebop
, and recorded over 100 albums. She was the first African-American singer to obtain a Grammy Award.
Why was Ella Fitzgerald influential?
Dubbed “The First Lady of Song,” Ella Fitzgerald was the
most popular female jazz singer
in the United States for more than half a century. In her lifetime, she won 13 Grammy awards and sold over 40 million albums. Her voice was flexible, wide-ranging, accurate and ageless.
What did Ella Fitzgerald do to help others?
Throughout her life, she remained a champion of children, inspired by personal tragedy to help orphans and disadvantaged children. In 1993, the singer founded
the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation
. The Foundation is dedicated “to use the fruits of her success to help people of all races, cultures and beliefs…
How did Ella Fitzgerald affect American culture?
During her life, Fitzgerald was awarded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Equal Justice Award and the
American Black Achievement Award
, as well as many other honors that celebrated her talents and accomplishments both in the jazz world and in the civil rights movement.
What style is the first lady of song?
Ella Fitzgerald (1917–1996) was a gifted
American jazz
artist. She had a warm and lovely voice, with notable rhythmic sense, versatility, and intonation, as well as exceptional talent at scat singing
Who was Ella Fitzgerald influenced by?
Ella Fitzgerald was greatly influenced by the
experimental music of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie
. It was called be-bop. She used be-bop rhythms in her singing. In nineteen forty-five, she recorded the song “Flying Home,” using the be-bop method known as “scat”.
What was Ella Fitzgerald's nickname?
Ella Fitzgerald acquired a handful of nicknames that speak to her legend through the years –
the First Lady of Song, Queen of Jazz, Lady Ella
. The vocalist – who died in 1996 at age 79 – is prized for her phrasing, her tone and her improvisational talents, most often expressed in the form of scatting.
What is Ella Fitzgerald legacy?
A woman of many firsts, Fitzgerald was
the first Super Bowl halftime show performer
, as well as one of the first vocalists to win a Grammy, when she won the first of 13 in 1959. Known as the “First Lady of Song” more than two decades after her death in 1996, Fitzgerald is still admired and remembered.
Were Ella and Louis married?
Ella and Louis' was a musical marriage made in
heaven
, and today, over 60 years later, their recordings have lost none of their allure, charm, and luster.
Who married Ella Fitzgerald?
Who was Ella Fitzgerald married to when she passed away? Ella Fitzgerald and
Ray Brown adopted
a son, whom they named Ray Brown Jr. Sadly, the pressures of fame and life in the spotlight affected Fitzgerald and Brown's relationship, and in 1953, the couple divorced.
How Ella Fitzgerald died?
Ella Fitzgerald, known to jazz lovers throughout the world as the First Lady of Song, died Saturday at her Beverly Hills home. She was 78. The cause of death was not released, but Fitzgerald had
suffered from heart disease and diabetes
for many years.
What is Ella Fitzgerald most famous song?
According to Spotify, one of the most used and most popular streaming platforms around, Ella Fitzgerald's most popular song (and most-streamed song) is
“Dream A Little Dream Of Me”
, the single version featuring Louis Armstrong.
Where was Ella Fitzgerald born and died?
Ella Fitzgerald, in full Ella Jane Fitzgerald, (born April 25, 1917,
Newport News, Virginia, U.S.
—died June 15, 1996, Beverly Hills, California), American jazz singer who became world famous for the wide range and rare sweetness of her voice.
Was Ella Fitzgerald an alto?
Beyond her impeccable taste, Fitzgerald had all the right tools: a three-octave-plus voice that was silvery smooth and flexible in its flights from
smoky alto
to keening soprano. She had an instinct for the most expressive note, and could find it even in the heat of improvisation.
