When and where was Ella Fitzgerald born?
Ella Jane Fitzgerald was born on the 25th of April 1917, in Newport News, Virginia. Her parents lived together for two and a half years before moving to Yonkers, New York, in the early 1920s.
Questions about Ella Fitzgerald
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How did Ella Fitzgerald start her professional singing career?
Fitzgerald debuted at age seventeen on the 21st of November 1934, during one of the earliest Amateur Nights at the Apollo Theater. She won first prize by singing Judy and The Object of My Affection after initially intending to dance.
What role did Chick Webb play in Ella Fitzgerald's music development?
Drummer Bardu Ali introduced Fitzgerald to bandleader Chick Webb who eventually signed her to his orchestra despite initial reluctance about her appearance. She gained acclaim performing at Harlem's Savoy Ballroom with Webb's band.
Why is Ella Fitzgerald known for scat singing?
Fitzgerald began including scat singing as a major part of her performance repertoire while working with Dizzy Gillespie's big band. Her 1945 scat recording of Flying Home arranged by Vic Schoen became one of the most influential vocal jazz records of the decade.
Did Ella Fitzgerald face racial discrimination during international tours?
In July 1954, Fitzgerald faced severe racial discrimination when Pan-American Airlines ordered her entourage to leave an aircraft in Honolulu due to their race. They were refused permission to re-board to retrieve luggage and clothing before filing a civil suit against the airline in December 1954.
How did diabetes affect the end of Ella Fitzgerald's life?
Ella suffered from diabetes which led to complications requiring hospitalization in 1985, 1986, and 1990. By 1993 both of her legs were amputated below the knee due to the effects of diabetes and she died on the 15th of June 1996 at age seventy-nine.