366Art | Ella Fitzgerald

Today is the birthday of  the Queen of Jazz, Ella Fitzgerald, one of the greatest jazz vocalists ever. The editing above and her portrait on the musical reference / birthday calendar below are made by me, Frieke.

The First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgerald, was born on April 25, 1917, in Newport News, Virginia. She was one of the greatest jazz vocalists ever, with a range of three octaves. However, her childhood was not easy. After the death of her mother in 1932, when Fitzgerald was 15 years old, she moved to Harlem and lived with various relatives. She struggled with poverty and left school at a young age, performing on the streets and in local clubs to earn money. Her breakthrough came in 1934 during a talent contest at the Apollo Theater. She won the competition with her amazing imitation of singer Connee Boswell in Object of My Affection. The audience was ecstatic. Her interpretation of this song remains a classic in the American Songbook.

From the moment of this victory, her life changed. Ella became the singer of the Chick Webb jazz orchestra. With this orchestra, she toured the entire East Coast of the United States, performed frequently in the jazz clubs of New York, and recorded her first record, Love And Kisses, This was not yet a success, but with the song A-Tisket A-Tasket, Fitzgerald became a star in 1938. This song is originally a children's song from 1879, on which she improvised a scat version. Over a million copies were sold. After Chick Webb's death in 1939, Fitzgerald went solo. She signed with Decca Records and began a successful solo career that would last for decades. Fitzgerald's voice was remarkable for its clear tone, flexibility, and perfect intonation. She was also known for her scat singing, a technique she perfected. This vocal improvisation in jazz made her very popular. Ella Fitzgerald has an extensive repertoire; some of her most famous and iconic songs are: Summertime (1936) from Porgy and Bess, My Funny Valentine (1956), Someone to Watch Over Me (1950) from George Gershwin, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) (1939), Blue Skies (1958), Mack the Knife (1960), a brilliant performance of this song from The Threepenny Opera, Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye (1956), Cry Me a River (1961) and How High the Moon  (1947). Throughout her career, Fitzgerald collaborated with many famous musicians, including Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, and Benny Goodman. Her recordings with Armstrong, such as Ella and Louis, are among the most beloved in jazz history. In the mid-1960s, Ella briefly ventured into pop music with songs like Sunny and I Heard It Through The Grapevine. In 1972, Fitzgerald made her comeback in the jazz scene with the album Jazz at the Santa Monica Civic, collaborating with Count Basie and Tommy Flanagan. After this comeback, she signed with Norman Granz's new label Pablo, where she released a series of remarkable albums between 1973 and 1989. Some highlights include the four albums she recorded with guitarist Joe Pass, two collaborations with Count Basie, and various live performances at the Montreux Jazz Festival.

Ella Fitzgerald was diagnosed with diabetes later in life and struggled with the consequences of this condition. Despite these health problems, she continued to perform well into the 1980s. Ella Fitzgerald's last public performance took place on March 26, 1993, at Carnegie Hall in New York City, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the "Jazz at Lincoln Center" series. This performance was a tribute to her life and career, with various prominent artists expressing their appreciation for her work and performing songs from her repertoire. Fitzgerald herself also performed at this event, although her health was already deteriorating at the time. It was a touching moment in which she was honored for her immense contribution to jazz music. Unfortunately, she passed away less than three years later, on June 15, 1996.

Fitzgerald received numerous awards, including 14 Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In addition to her musical career. Fitzgerald was also involved in various charitable and civil rights organizations, including the NAACP.