Ella Jane Fitzgerald, known as "The First Lady of Song," was perhaps the popular female jazz singer in the United States for over 50 years. Over her career , she won 13 Grammy awards and sold over 40 million albums.
Ella was born on April 25, 1917 into a somewhat broken home. Her father left shortly after she was born and her mother moved in with her boyfriend a few years later. While Ella's early childhood years were happy, they took a turn for the worse after her mother died in 1932. Ella's life began to spin out of control. Her school grades dropped, she skipped school, and after getting in trouble with the police, Ella was sent to reform school. Reform school was brutal and Ella escaped at 15 year old, finding herself alone in the Great
Ella was born on April 25, 1917 into a somewhat broken home. Her father left shortly after she was born and her mother moved in with her boyfriend a few years later. While Ella's early childhood years were happy, they took a turn for the worse after her mother died in 1932. Ella's life began to spin out of control. Her school grades dropped, she skipped school, and after getting in trouble with the police, Ella was sent to reform school. Reform school was brutal and Ella escaped at 15 year old, finding herself alone in the Great