Ella Fitzgerald
Biography
"The First Lady of Song," Ella Fitzgerald was arguably the finest female jazz singer of all time (although some may vote for Sarah Vaughan or Billie Holiday). Blessed with a beautiful voice and a wide range, Fitzgerald could outswing anyone, was a brilliant scat singer, and had near-perfect elocution; one could always understand the words she sang. The one fault was that, since she always sounded so happy to be singing, Fitzgerald did not always dig below the surface of the lyrics she interpreted and she even made a downbeat song such as "Love for Sale" sound joyous. However, when one evaluates her career on a whole, there is simply no one else in her class.. One could never guess from her singing that Ella Fitzgerald's early days were as grim as Billie Holiday's. Growing up in poverty, Fitzgerald was literally homeless for the year before she got her big break. In 1934, she appeared at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, winning an amateur contest by singing "Judy" in the style of her idol, Connee Boswell. After a short stint with Tiny Bradshaw, Fitzgerald was brought to the attention of Chick Webb by Benny Carter (who was in the audience at the Apollo). Webb, who was not impressed by the 17-year-old's appearance, was reluctantly persuaded to let her sing with his orchestra on a one-nighter. She went over well and soon the drummer recognized her commercial potential. Starting in 1935, Fitzgerald began recording with Webb's Orchestra, and by 1937 over half of the band's selections featured her voice. "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" became a huge hit in 1938 and "Undecided" soon followed. During this era, Fitzgerald was essentially a pop/swing singer who was best on ballads while her medium-tempo performances were generally juvenile novelties. She already had a beautiful voice but did not improvise or scat much; that would develop later.
Top Albums |
![](http://a2.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Music5/v4/a6/9b/03/a69b035d-76ab-9d37-8fc0-c86497dcbd79/UMG_cvrart_00602547074362_01_RGB72_1500x1500_06UMGIM18875.100x100-75.jpg) 1. Ella: The Le..
![](../../buyinitunes2.png) | ![The Last Decca Years 1949-1954, Ella Fitzgerald](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/8470/frameworks/images/p.png) 2. The Last Dec..
![](../../buyinitunes2.png) | ![The Early Years, Pt. 2 (1939-1941), Ella Fitzgerald](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/8470/frameworks/images/p.png) 3. The Early Ye..
![](../../buyinitunes2.png) | ![The Intimate Ella, Ella Fitzgerald](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/8470/frameworks/images/p.png) 4. The Intimate..
![](../../buyinitunes2.png) | ![Clap Hands Here Comes Charlie!, Ella Fitzgerald](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/8470/frameworks/images/p.png) 5. Clap Hands H..
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![These Are the Blues, Ella Fitzgerald](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/8470/frameworks/images/p.png) 6. These Are th..
![](../../buyinitunes2.png) | ![The Best of the Song Books, Ella Fitzgerald](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/8470/frameworks/images/p.png) 7. The Best of ..
![](../../buyinitunes2.png) | ![The Best of Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/8470/frameworks/images/p.png) 8. The Best of ..
![](../../buyinitunes2.png) | ![Pure Ella, Ella Fitzgerald](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/8470/frameworks/images/p.png) 9. Pure Ella
![](../../buyinitunes2.png) | ![Porgy and Bess, Ella Fitzgerald](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/8470/frameworks/images/p.png) 10. Porgy and Be..
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![Ella for Lovers, Ella Fitzgerald](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/8470/frameworks/images/p.png) 11. Ella for Lov..
![](../../buyinitunes2.png) | ![Ella and Basie!, Ella Fitzgerald](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/8470/frameworks/images/p.png) 12. Ella and Bas..
![](../../buyinitunes2.png) | ![Ella & Louis Sing Gershwin - Our Love Is Here to Stay, Ella Fitzgerald](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/8470/frameworks/images/p.png) 13. Ella & L..
![](../../buyinitunes2.png) | ![Ella: The Legendary Decca Recordings (Box Set), Ella Fitzgerald](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/8470/frameworks/images/p.png) 14. Ella: The Le..
![](../../buyinitunes2.png) | ![Ken Burns's Jazz: Ella Fitzgerald, Ella Fitzgerald](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/8470/frameworks/images/p.png) 15. Ken Burns's ..
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![Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas, Ella Fitzgerald](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/8470/frameworks/images/p.png) 16. Ella Wishes ..
![](../../buyinitunes2.png) | ![Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Songbook, Ella Fitzgerald](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/8470/frameworks/images/p.png) 17. Ella Fitzger..
![](../../buyinitunes2.png) | ![Love Letters from Ella: The Never-Before-Heard Recordings, Ella Fitzgerald](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/8470/frameworks/images/p.png) 18. Love Letters..
![](../../buyinitunes2.png) | ![Billie, Ella, Lena, Sarah, Billie Holiday](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/8470/frameworks/images/p.png) 19. Billie, Ella..
![](../../buyinitunes2.png) | ![Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie!, Ella Fitzgerald](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/8470/frameworks/images/p.png) 20. Clap Hands, ..
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Top Songs |
| Name | Album | Time | Price | |
1. | Dream a Little Dream of Me (Single V.. | Ella & Louis for Lovers | 3:04 | $1.29 | ![](../../buyinitunes2.png) |
2. | Baby, It's Cold Outside | Ella & Friends | 2:43 | $1.29 | ![](../../buyinitunes2.png) |
3. | Summertime | Porgy and Bess | 4:58 | $1.29 | ![](../../buyinitunes2.png) |
4. | Someone to Watch Over Me | Ella: The Legendary Decca R.. | 3:16 | $1.29 | ![](../../buyinitunes2.png) |
5. | Let's Call the Whole Thing Off | Best of Ella Fitzgerald &am.. | 4:14 | $1.29 | ![](../../buyinitunes2.png) |
6. | Misty (1960 Version) | Pure Ella | 2:53 | $1.29 | ![](../../buyinitunes2.png) |
7. | They Can't Take That Away from M.. | Best of Ella Fitzgerald &am.. | 4:40 | $1.29 | ![](../../buyinitunes2.png) |
8. | Cheek to Cheek | Complete Ella Fitzgerald &a.. | 5:54 | $1.29 | ![](../../buyinitunes2.png) |
9. | Sleigh Ride | Ella Wishes You a Swinging .. | 2:55 | $1.29 | ![](../../buyinitunes2.png) |
10. | My Funny Valentine | Pure Ella | 3:54 | $1.29 | ![](../../buyinitunes2.png) |
11. | Too Darn Hot (RAC Mix) | Verve Remixed: The First La.. | 3:10 | $1.29 | ![](../../buyinitunes2.png) |
12. | Dream a Little Dream | Smash Jazz Hits Vol 2 | 3:08 | $0.99 | ![](../../buyinitunes2.png) |
13. | Nearness of You | Ella & Louis for Lovers | 5:39 | $1.29 | ![](../../buyinitunes2.png) |
14. | Moonlight In Vermont | Complete Ella Fitzgerald &a.. | 3:43 | $1.29 | ![](../../buyinitunes2.png) |
15. | Frosty the Snowman | Ella Wishes You a Swinging .. | 2:11 | $1.29 | ![](../../buyinitunes2.png) |
16. | Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Sno.. | Ella Wishes You a Swinging .. | 2:42 | $1.29 | ![](../../buyinitunes2.png) |
17. | Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall | 20th Century Masters - The .. | 3:11 | $1.29 | ![](../../buyinitunes2.png) |
18. | Summertime | Best of Ella Fitzgerald &am.. | 5:01 | $1.29 | ![](../../buyinitunes2.png) |
19. | Love Is Here to Stay | Best of Ella Fitzgerald &am.. | 4:00 | $1.29 | ![](../../buyinitunes2.png) |
20. | All of Me | Ella Swings Gently With Nel.. | 3:22 | $0.99 | ![](../../buyinitunes2.png) |
21. | April In Paris | First Lady of Song (Box Set.. | 4:43 | $1.29 | ![](../../buyinitunes2.png) |
22. | They Can't Take That Away from M.. | Best of the Song Books | 3:11 | $1.29 | ![](../../buyinitunes2.png) |
23. | I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm.. | Best of the Song Books | 2:58 | $1.29 | ![](../../buyinitunes2.png) |
24. | It's Only a Paper Moon | Ella & Friends | 2:36 | $1.29 | ![](../../buyinitunes2.png) |
25. | Goodnight, My Love | Benny & His Girls | 3:11 | $0.99 | ![](../../buyinitunes2.png) |
Top Music Videos |
![It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) [Ed Sullivan Show Live 1965], Duke Ellington & Ella Fitzgerald](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/8470/frameworks/images/p.png) 1. It Don't Mean...
![](../../buyinitunes2.png) | ![I've Got You Under My Skin (The Speek), Ella Fitzgerald](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/8470/frameworks/images/p.png) 2. I've Got You ...
![](../../buyinitunes2.png) | ![Too Close For Comfort (The Speek), Ella Fitzgerald](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/8470/frameworks/images/p.png) 3. Too Close For...
![](../../buyinitunes2.png) | ![This Girl Is In Love With You (Live), Ella Fitzgerald](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/8470/frameworks/images/p.png) 4. This Girl Is ...
![](../../buyinitunes2.png) | ![That Old Black Magic (Live), Ella Fitzgerald](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/8470/frameworks/images/p.png) 5. That Old Blac...
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![Sunshine of Your Love (Live), Ella Fitzgerald](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/8470/frameworks/images/p.png) 6. Sunshine of Y...
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