Ella Fitzgerald Biography

Fast Facts

• Sold more than 40 million albums during her lifetime and won 13 Grammy Awards
• Was awarded a National Medal of Arts by President Ronald Reagan in 1987
• In 1935, she performed with the Tiny Bradshaw band at the Harlem Opera House and later toured with the Chick Webb band
• Some of her first songs, released under the Decca label, were "Love and Kisses," "(If You Can't Sing It) You Have to Swing It," and a playful rendition of the nursery rhyme "A-Tisket, A-Tasket․"
• Won a weekly drawing at the Apollo Theater to compete in Amateur Night in 1934, originally intending to dance but, after seeing a performance by the talented Edwards Sisters, decided to sing instead
• Quote: "I owe Marilyn Monroe a real debt․ It was because of her that I played the Mocambo․․․After that, I never had to play a small jazz club again․ She was an unusual woman - a little ahead of her times․ And she didn't know it․"
• Quote: "(On her first performance): "Once up there, I felt the acceptance and love from my audience․ I knew I wanted to sing before people the rest of my life․""
• Quote: "I guess what everyone wants more than anything else is to be loved․ And to know that you loved me for my singing is too much for me․ Forgive me if I don't have all the words․ Maybe I can sing it and you'll understand․"
• Best known as a jazz singer often referred to as the "Queen of Jazz" and "First Lady of Song" whose hit songs included "Flying Home" and "Dream a Little Dream of Me․"
• Partnered with producer Norman Granz in the 1940s, joining the "Jazz at the Philharmonic" tour and releasing the first of her songbook series