| Ella Fitzgerald, also known as 'Lady Ella', was one of the most important jazz singers, and the winner of thirteen Grammy Awards. Gifted with a three-octave vocal range, she is noted for her purity of tone and 'horn-like' improvisational ability, particularly in her scat singing.
She was left on her own as an orphan at age 14.
Her singing debut was at age 16 in 1934 at the Harlem, Apollo Theatre, in one of the earliest of its famous 'Amateur Nights', which she won, adding fame to both the Apollo and herself. She was noticed by Bardu Ali of Chick Webb's band, who persuaded Webb to hire her. She started singing with Webb's Orchestra in 1935, in Harlem's Savoy Ballroom. She recorded several hit songs with them, including 'If You Can't Sing It), You'll Have to Swing It', 'A Tisket A Tasket' that launched her to stardom. |
