Despite being a fan of jazz music, I knew little about Ella Fitzgerald aside from her voice and that she was the first African American to win a Grammy Award. However, I knew that she gained notoriety and persevered despite facing many barriers during difficult times for women and African Americans and was influential in the Civil rights moment. At some point, I came across an anecdote about Marilyn Monroe using her influence to persuade a Hollywood jazz club owner to allow Ella to play. Since hearing the anecdote, I have wanted to investigate the life of Ella Fitzgerald. I thought this would be an excellent opportunity to learn about the iconic and influential woman and the life she experienced. Ella Fitzgerald was born on April 25,
