People named Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald AMERICAN SINGER Ella Jane Fitzgerald, First Lady of Song 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. She became an international legend during a career that spanned some six decades. As a child, Fitzgerald wanted to be a dancer, but when she panicked at an amateur contest in 1934 at New York City’s Apollo Theatre and sang in a style influenced by the jazz vocalist Connee Boswell instead, she won first prize. The following year Fitzgerald joined the Chick Webb orchestra; Webb became the teenaged Fitzgerald’s guardian when her mother died. She made her first recording, “Love and Kisses,” in 1935, and her first hit, “A-Tisket, A-Tasket,” followed in 1938. After Webb’s death in 1939, she led his band until it broke up in 1942. She then soloed in cabarets and theatres and toured internationally with such pop and jazz stars as Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, the Mills Brothers, the Ink Spots, and Dizzy Gillespie. She also recorded prolifically. During much of her early career she had been noted for singing and recording novelty songs. Her status rose dramatically in the 1950s when jazz impresario Norman Granz became her manager. From 1956 to 1964 she recorded a 19-volume series of “songbooks,” in which she interpreted nearly 250 outstanding songs by Richard Rodgers, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, and Johnny Mercer. This material, combined with the best jazz instrumental support, clearly demonstrated Fitzgerald’s remarkable interpretative skills. Although her diction was excellent, her rendition of lyrics was intuitive rather than studied. For many years the star attraction of Granz’s Jazz at the Philharmonic concert tours, she was also one of the best-selling jazz vocal recording artists in history. She appeared in films (notably Pete Kelly’s Blues in 1955), on television, and in concert halls throughout the world. She also recorded a number of live concert albums and produced a notable duet version of Porgy and Bess (1957) with Armstrong. During the 1970s she began to experience serious health problems, but she continued to perform periodically, even after heart surgery in 1986. In 1993, however, her career was curtailed following complications stemming from diabetes, which resulted in the amputation of both her legs below the knees. Fitzgerald’s clear tone and wide vocal range were complemented by her mastery of rhythm, harmony, intonation, and diction. She was an excellent ballad singer, conveying a winsome, ingenuous quality. Her infectious scat singing brought excitement to such concert recordings as Mack the Knife: Ella in Berlin and was widely imitated by others. She garnered 14 Grammy Awards, including one for lifetime achievement. She also received a Kennedy Center Honor for lifetime achievement (1979) and the National Medal of Arts (1987).

Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Ella Yeuldine (Fitzgerald) Whisenant.

Ella Fitzgerald died on August 9, 1910, and was buried at Williamstown Cemetery Champion Rd, in Williamstown, Hobsons Bay City County, VIC Australia. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Mary Ellen "Ella"Fitzgerald.

Ella Dean FitzGerald of Soddy Daisy, Hamilton County, TN was born on July 23, 1927, and died at age 75 years old on February 21, 2003. Ella FitzGerald was buried at Chattanooga National Cemetery Section LL Site 194 1200 Bailey Avenue, in Chattanooga.

Ella Fitzgerald of Oklahoma was born on June 22, 1874, and died at age 89 years old in June 1963.

Ella Violet FitzGerald was born on January 19, 1911, and died at age 95 years old on July 29, 2006. Ella FitzGerald was buried at Los Angeles National Cemetery Section 1A Site 472 950 South Sepulveda Boulevard, in Los Angeles, Ca. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Ella Violet FitzGerald.

Ella Fitzgerald of Saint Louis, Saint Louis City County, Missouri was born on March 3, 1907, and died at age 74 years old in April 1981.

Ella A Fitzgerald of Lancaster, Los Angeles County, CA was born on August 11, 1904, and died at age 86 years old in January 1991.

Ella M Fitzgerald of South Gate, Los Angeles County, CA was born on October 19, 1897, and died at age 100 years old on February 16, 1998.

Ella M Fitzgerald of Seattle, King County, WA was born on September 6, 1924, and died at age 85 years old on January 1, 2010.

Ella L Fitzgerald of Olympia, Thurston County, WA was born on February 15, 1917, and died at age 81 years old on August 15, 1998.

Ella M Fitzgerald of Leoti, Wichita County, KS was born on July 1, 1932, and died at age 67 years old on September 4, 1999.

Ella Fitzgerald of Gladstone, Clackamas County, Oregon was born on May 30, 1895, and died at age 81 years old in August 1976.

Ella Fitzgerald of Rising Star, Eastland County, Texas was born on October 12, 1892, and died at age 80 years old in October 1972.

Ella Fitzgerald of Childress, Childress County, Texas was born on August 2, 1891, and died at age 86 years old in November 1977.

Ella G Fitzgerald of Columbia, Maury County, TN was born on April 7, 1925, and died at age 83 years old on February 12, 2009.

Ella M Fitzgerald of Paducah, McCracken County, KY was born on October 8, 1923, and died at age 77 years old on March 29, 2001.

Ella Fitzgerald of West Bend, Washington County, Wisconsin was born on August 15, 1892, and died at age 92 years old in September 1984.

Ella Fitzgerald of Green Bay, Brown County, Wisconsin was born on May 29, 1884, and died at age 91 years old in March 1976.

Ella C Fitzgerald of Royal Oak, Oakland County, MI was born on March 25, 1907, and died at age 83 years old on August 27, 1990.

Ella E Fitzgerald of Luther, Lake County, MI was born on October 14, 1931, and died at age 70 years old on October 14, 2001.

Ella Fitzgerald of Rockford, Kent County, Michigan was born on July 22, 1899, and died at age 82 years old in November 1981.

Ella Fitzgerald of Mount Clemens, Macomb County, Michigan was born on January 16, 1885, and died at age 97 years old in May 1982.

Ella Fitzgerald of Chicago, Cook County, IL was born on May 14, 1901, and died at age 92 years old on July 30, 1993.

Ella Fitzgerald was born on March 12, 1938, and died at age 49 years old in April 1987. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Ella Fitzgerald.

Ella Fitzgerald of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio was born on January 29, 1907, and died at age 74 years old in June 1981.

Ella Fitzgerald of Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio was born on June 1, 1889, and died at age 88 years old in March 1978.

Ella Fitzgerald was born on March 21, 1926, and died at age 51 years old in January 1978. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Ella Fitzgerald.

Ella Fitzgerald of Tyro, Nelson County, Virginia was born on September 10, 1909, and died at age 69 years old in November 1978.