| Ella Fitzgerald |
|
|
|
Biography | ||
|
Born: April 25, 1917 Hometown: Newport News, Virginia Instrument: Vocalist Music Training: Self taught Bands and Orchestras: Chick Webb, Dizzy Gillespie Signature Song: "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" Ella Fitzgerald biography: Ella was the product of a broken home, her father leaving their Newport, Va home shortly after her birth. After her mother died from injuries she received in a car crash, Ella was placed in, the Colored Orphan Asylum, one of the few orphanages that would accept Afro-American children in the Riverdale section of Yonkers, New York. From there she was placed in the New York State Training School for Girls, a reformatory where there was later revealed widespread physical abuse. She escaped and became a street urchin living on the streets of Harlem. At the age of 16 she got up the nerve to enter amateur night at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem where the patrons were known to be quite abrasive in their response to young performers. She had planned to dance, but after seeing the level of competition she lost her nerve. When the stage manager said do something she started singing 'Object of My Affection' and 'Judy,' she won first prize. As a result she caught the attention of bandleader Chick Webb, who after coaching her introduced her as the orchestra'a lead singer at the Savoy Theatre. At the age of 24 she entered into an ill advised marriage with a shady character by the name of Benjamin Kornegay, whom she eventually divorced. Her second marriage was to bass player Ray Brown at 30 which was more successful but also ended in divorce. Although she received no professional voice training her voice and range rivaled that of a conservatory trained singer. Ella left behind a littany of recording mostly done with producer and founder of Verve and Pablo jazz labels Norman Granz. Between the years 1956 and 1964 Ella recorded a series of songbook albums each devoted to the works of a particular American composer. He also produced collaborative works with orchestra leaders Count Basie and Duke Ellington respectively entitled "On the Sunny Side of the Street" and "Ella at Duke's Place." During her career she received 13 Grammys. As a result of a long battle with diabetes, which compromised her vision, she lost both of her legs which were amputated below the knees in 1992. Born: June 15, 1996
Links to sites of interest about Ella Fitzgerald: |
|
|
| Ella Fitzgerald |
| CDs/MP3 Downloads |
| Biography |
| Books |
| Concert Tickets |
| Music Videos |
| Posters |
| Fan Sites |
| Vote 4 Favorite Artist |
 |
| Performing Artists: |
| Male Celebrities |
| Female Celebrities |
| Recording Artists: |
| BY STYLE: | Blues & Jazz |
| Country & Western |
| Pop Charts |
| R & B |
| Rock 'n Roll | Rap / Hip Hop |
