Ella Jane Fitzgerald born April 25, 1917 in Newport News, Virginia. Her father and mother, Temperance (Tempie), split shortly after she was born. Tempie and Ella moved in with Tempie’s boyfriend Joseph Da Silva in New York. Her half-sister (Frances) was born 1923. They didn’t have a lot of money to support the family; Joe held two jobs, Tempie worked two jobs, and even Ella took a job as a runner for gamblers. In 1932, Tempie passed away from injuries sustained in a car accident, Ella was devastated. Tempie’s sis Virginia took Ella home, and shortly after Joe passed away due to a heart attack, causing Frances to join them. Ella was so unhappy, she got into trouble with the authorities and sent to a reform school. Where she was abused, which
…show more content…
In the process they became lifelong friends and often worked together. Ella began entering- and winning- every talent show she could find. In 1935, she won the chance to perform with the Tiny Bradshaw band at the Harlem Opera House. She met the drummer and bandleader Chick Webb. Ella’s voice impressed him but he already hired a singer. Chick offered Ella the opportunity to test with the band at a dance at Yale University. If the kids liked Ella she would stay with the band. Despite the tough crowd, Ella was a success and was hired to tour with the band for $12.50 a week. In 1936, Ella made her first recording “Love and Kisses” was released with moderate success but at this time she was touring with Chick’s band at “The World’s Most Famous Ballroom”. Ella started singing a rendition of the song “ You have to Swing it”. The era of swing bands was dying down and the focus turned to …show more content…
Ella mastered the art of scat singing. In 1938, at the age of 21, She sang a cover of the nursery rhyme “A-Tisket, A-Tasket”. 1 million copies of that album were sold, it hit number one, and stayed on the pop charts for 17 weeks, that is how ella became famous. On, June 16, 1939 lost her mentor Chick Webb and his band was renamed “Ella Fitzgerald and her Famous Band”. Ella then married Benny Kornegay a dockworker who was chasing her. When she saw that he had a criminal record, she had the marriage annulled. When on tour in 1946, Ella fell in love with bassist Ray Brown, they were married and adopted a son (Ray Jr.). Rays’ producer and manager (Norman Granz) saw the famous spark in Ella and convinced her to sign with him. Norman got Ella into the Philharmonic tour where she worked with Louis Armstrong on several albums and her famous songbook series. From 1956-1964 she sang covers of many artists songs. Ira Gershwin said "I never knew how good our songs were until I heard Ella Fitzgerald sing them". She became a famous talk show guest. Ella and Ray were so busy they strained their relationship with their son. Ella eventually reconnected and fixed her relationship with her
In the process they became lifelong friends and often worked together. Ella began entering- and winning- every talent show she could find. In 1935, she won the chance to perform with the Tiny Bradshaw band at the Harlem Opera House. She met the drummer and bandleader Chick Webb. Ella’s voice impressed him but he already hired a singer. Chick offered Ella the opportunity to test with the band at a dance at Yale University. If the kids liked Ella she would stay with the band. Despite the tough crowd, Ella was a success and was hired to tour with the band for $12.50 a week. In 1936, Ella made her first recording “Love and Kisses” was released with moderate success but at this time she was touring with Chick’s band at “The World’s Most Famous Ballroom”. Ella started singing a rendition of the song “ You have to Swing it”. The era of swing bands was dying down and the focus turned to …show more content…
Ella mastered the art of scat singing. In 1938, at the age of 21, She sang a cover of the nursery rhyme “A-Tisket, A-Tasket”. 1 million copies of that album were sold, it hit number one, and stayed on the pop charts for 17 weeks, that is how ella became famous. On, June 16, 1939 lost her mentor Chick Webb and his band was renamed “Ella Fitzgerald and her Famous Band”. Ella then married Benny Kornegay a dockworker who was chasing her. When she saw that he had a criminal record, she had the marriage annulled. When on tour in 1946, Ella fell in love with bassist Ray Brown, they were married and adopted a son (Ray Jr.). Rays’ producer and manager (Norman Granz) saw the famous spark in Ella and convinced her to sign with him. Norman got Ella into the Philharmonic tour where she worked with Louis Armstrong on several albums and her famous songbook series. From 1956-1964 she sang covers of many artists songs. Ira Gershwin said "I never knew how good our songs were until I heard Ella Fitzgerald sing them". She became a famous talk show guest. Ella and Ray were so busy they strained their relationship with their son. Ella eventually reconnected and fixed her relationship with her