Portrait of Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald

Origin: Newport News, Virginia, USA Years: April 25, 1917 - June 15, 1996

Ella Fitzgerald, known as 'The First Lady of Song' and 'Queen of Jazz,' revolutionized jazz through her innovative scat singing, perfect intonation, and unparalleled vocal range. Her voice spanned three octaves with remarkable flexibility across tempos and genres. Fitzgerald's legendary songbook series (1956-1958) for Verve Records remains one of music's most ambitious recording projects. She collaborated with jazz legends including Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie. With 18 Grammy Awards and 59 career years, she is widely regarded as the greatest female vocalist in jazz history.

JazzSwingVocal JazzTraditional PopScat Singing

Discography Overview

With a career spanning 1934 to 1993, Ella Fitzgerald recorded over 200 albums and 2,000 songs, making her one of the most prolific jazz vocalists. Her songbook series of eight albums (1956-1958) for Verve Records is considered one of the most ambitious musical projects in history. Fitzgerald won 18 Grammy Awards (including the first Grammy Award for Best Vocal Performance, Female in 1958) and received the National Medal of Arts in 1987. She was named among the 'Greatest Jazz Vocalists of All Time' by Rolling Stone and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992, recognizing her cultural impact and contributions to American music.

Key Albums

  • Ella and Louis (1956)
  • Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook (1956)
  • Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers and Hart Songbook (1956)
  • Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook (1957)
  • Ella and Basie! (1963)
  • Ella at Juan-les-Pins (1964)

Key Songs

  • A-Tisket, A-Tasket
  • Dream a Little Dream of Me
  • How High the Moon
  • Mack the Knife
  • Summertime
  • Blue Skies
  • Cheek to Cheek
  • I've Got You Under My Skin
  • It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
  • Every Time We Say Goodbye

Career Timeline

  1. 1934 Won amateur contest at Apollo Theater; began professional singing career with Chick Webb Orchestra
  2. 1936 Scored first hit 'A-Tisket, A-Tasket' and 'Love and Kisses' at age 19
  3. 1938 Recorded 'A-Tisket, A-Tasket' which became her signature song; departed from Chick Webb Orchestra
  4. 1942-1946 Toured as solo artist and with various orchestras; built national reputation
  5. 1946 Released 'Dream a Little Dream of Me' and 'How High the Moon'; reached Billboard charts
  6. 1956 Began legendary songbook series with 'Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook' and collaborated with Louis Armstrong on 'Ella and Louis'
  7. 1957 Released songbook albums for Rodgers and Hart and Duke Ellington; won first Grammy Award for Best Vocal Performance, Female
  8. 1958 Completed songbook series with George Gershwin and Jerome Kern; eight albums total in songbook project
  9. 1963 Released 'Ella and Basie!' album with Count Basie Orchestra; collaborated on tour
  10. 1964 Recorded live album 'Ella at Juan-les-Pins' with Count Basie at French jazz festival
  11. 1970-1980s Maintained active recording and touring career despite changing musical landscape
  12. 1979 Awarded Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime achievements
  13. 1987 Received National Medal of Arts from President Ronald Reagan
  14. 1992 Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George H.W. Bush
  15. 1993 Performed final concerts; passed away in Beverly Hills at age 79 from complications of diabetes

Influence Graph

How Ella Fitzgerald sits in the influence chain

Influenced by

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