The First Lady of Song
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"It isn't where you came from;
it's where you're going that counts."
- Ella Fitzgerald -
Ella Jane Fitzgerald (25.04.1917-15.06.1996), also known as The First Lady of Song, was
a rare vocalist, considered the greatest singer
of the 20th century, famous for her rare voice that reached 3 octaves, purity of tone, impeccable diction,
phrasing,
timing, intonation, and a "horn-like" improvisational ability.
While Fitzgerald
appeared in films and as a guest on popular television shows in the second half of the 20th century, her
musical collaborations with Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and The Ink Spots were some of her most
notable acts outside of her solo career. Taking Hollywood and the Jazz scene by storm, Fitzgerald was the first
African-American woman to win a Grammy (13, to be exact!).
The career history and archival material from
Fitzgerald's long career are housed in the Archives Center at the
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, while her music arrangements are at the Library of
Congress. In 1990, Harvard granted Ella Fitzgerald an honorary degree in music.
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Coded by Iren Shmulenson