“First Lady of Song”

[wkhanna]

From today's edition of "The Writer's Almanac"

One hundred years ago today, “First Lady of Song” and queen of jazz Ella Fitzgerald was born in Newport News, Virginia (1917). Her smooth voice and technical skill remain unmatched in the jazz world decades after her death.

Fitzgerald got her start at Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem when she was just 17 years old. She had intended to dance during her performance, but a prior dancing act intimidated her so much that she decided to sing instead. She won first prize for the night.

Fitzgerald won 13 Grammy Awards over the course of her life, including one at the inaugural show in 1958. She also received the National Medal of Arts, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the George and Ira Gershwin Award for Lifetime Musical Achievement.

link to NPR article

[Burke Strickland]

Although she might have turned out to be a very talented dancer, we're quite fortunate that she chose to sing instead! Ella Fitzgerald richly deserved all the awards and accolades she received during and beyond her lifetime and deserves to be remembered and listened to today.

I had the pleasure and privilege of being in the audience when she was onstage at Carnegie Hall in New York City on November 26, 1976 with Oscar Peterson on piano, backed by the Count Basie Orchestra (Count Basie was recovering from a heart attack so Nat Pierce filled in for Basie on piano) as well as Joe Pass on guitar and Tommy Flanagan on piano. Although all of the talent was first rate and together they put on a flawless and memorable performance, the star of the show was decidedly Ms. Fitzgerald. Her vibrant, exuberant voice filled the auditorium and her vocal styling thrilled the crowd.

[Ovation]

Ella Fitzgerald is my "desert island" choice whenever I'm asked "if you could only have one..."