She was born in 1917 in Newport News, Virginia. She was the product of a common-law marriage between her parents William and Temperance Fitzgerald. Ella Fitzgerald grew up with meager means and would become one of the most well respected jazz vocalists of the 20th Century.
Ella Fitzgerald wanted to be a dancer but after hearing the vocal strength and talent of Louis Armstrong and Bing Crosby her direction changed. Her dreams really changed courses when she became intrigued with the lead singer of the Boswell Sisters. She quickly decided that she wanted to sound "just like her" and perhaps in some ways, she sounded even better.
By 1932, Ella's mother had died and Ella's grades dropped soon after her death and other life-changing events. She began her singing debut with drummer and band leader, Chick Webb. Chick wasn't really impressed with Ella's rough edges and stage presence but he gave her a chance. The opportunity began with a performance at Yale University. The crowd liked her and she had a job with Chick Webb.
In 1938, A-Tisket, A-Tasket gave new meaning to a nursery rhyme when Ella made it a hit. She went on to record 150 other songs with an air of pop fluff to many of them. She realized success and by 1955, she had joined up with Verve Records.
In 1963, MGM bought out Verge and chose not to renew Ella's contract. This was something that would prove detrimental but Ella would go on to record other songs. Her last recording was in 1991 and she died in 1996.
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