Fitzgerald experienced a troubled childhood that began with her parents separating shortly after her birth.
With her mother, she moved to Yonkers, New York. They lived there with her mother's boyfriend, Joseph Da Silva.
With her mother, she moved to Yonkers, New York. They lived there with her mother's boyfriend, Joseph Da Silva.
Struggling financially, the young Fitzgerald helped her family out by working as a messenger "running numbers" and acting as a lookout for a brothel.
Her first career aspiration was to become a dancer.
Her first career aspiration was to become a dancer.
After her mother's death in 1932, Fitzgerald ended up moving in with an aunt.
By 1934, she was trying to make it on her own and living on the streets. Still harboring dreams of becoming an entertainer, she entered an amateur contest at Harlem's Apollo Theater.
By 1934, she was trying to make it on her own and living on the streets. Still harboring dreams of becoming an entertainer, she entered an amateur contest at Harlem's Apollo Theater.
At the contest, she sang the Hoagy Carmichael tune "Judy" as well as "The Object of My Affection," wowing the audience.
Ella went on to win the contest's $25 first-place prize.
Ella went on to win the contest's $25 first-place prize.
“But I never did get the prize. They promised me a week’s engagement, but they didn’t give it to me.”
“Well, what did they tell you?”
“The same thing they tell all the other amateurs who win prizes and don’t get them,” she said with a twinkle.
“Well, what did they tell you?”
“The same thing they tell all the other amateurs who win prizes and don’t get them,” she said with a twinkle.
"Ella Fitzgerald's hardest job was to get folks to listen"
That unexpected performance at the Apollo helped set Fitzgerald's career in motion. She soon met bandleader and drummer Chick Webb and eventually joined his group as a singer.
Ella recorded "Love and Kisses" with Webb in 1935 and found herself playing regularly at one of Harlem's hottest clubs, the Savoy.
She also put out her first No. 1 hit, 1938's "A-Tisket, A-Tasket," which she co-wrote.
She also put out her first No. 1 hit, 1938's "A-Tisket, A-Tasket," which she co-wrote.
"So-so show on Apollo's stage: Pops and Louie, Act Of Tumblers And Signing Of Ella Fitzgerald Okay"
The New York Age, 27 July 1935.
The New York Age, 27 July 1935.
Following Webb's death in 1939, Ella became the leader of the band, which was renamed Ella Fitzgerald and Her Famous Orchestra.
The 1950s and 1960s proved to be a time of great critical and commercial success for Fitzgerald, and she earned the moniker "First Lady of Song".
The 1950s and 1960s proved to be a time of great critical and commercial success for Fitzgerald, and she earned the moniker "First Lady of Song".
At the very first Grammy Awards in 1958, Ella Fitzgerald picked up her first two Grammys—and made history as the first African-American woman to win the award.
By the 1980s, Fitzgerald experienced serious health problems. She had heart surgery in 1986 and had been suffering from diabetes. The disease left her blind, and she had both legs amputated in 1994.
She made her last recording in 1989 and her last public performance in 1991 at New York's Carnegie Hall.
Ella Fitzgerald died on June 15, 1996, at her home in Beverly Hills.
Ella Fitzgerald died on June 15, 1996, at her home in Beverly Hills.
In all, Ella Fitzgerald recorded more than 200 albums and some 2,000 songs in her lifetime.
Her total record sales exceeded 40 million. Her many accolades included 13 Grammy Awards, the NAACP Image Award for Lifetime Achievement and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Her total record sales exceeded 40 million. Her many accolades included 13 Grammy Awards, the NAACP Image Award for Lifetime Achievement and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
"I know I'm no glamour girl, and it's not easy for me to get up in front of a crowd of people. It used to bother me a lot, but now I've got it figured out that God gave me this talent to use, so I just stand there and sing."
Further reading biography.com/musician/ella-…
