ELLA FITZGERALD
“THE QUEEN OF JAZZ”

Ella Fitzgerald
“The First Lady of Song”

"It isn’t where you came from, its where you’re going that counts.“- Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald was born on April 25, 1918 in Virginia
She had moved to New York at a very young age
As a child she loved to dance and would often listen to the Boswell sisters
This passion lead her to the doors of the Apollo Theater where she was going to take part in a contest and dance, eventually she got stage fright and ended up singing and thus began her never ending career.

Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there's love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong – Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald had to overcome many racial and gender barriers to get places
Her many accomplishments reflect the many battles she faced
She had understood that jazz was a “chauvinistic” music and women had to prove themselves more then men to get places
Her inspiration led her to the doorsteps of places that were once closed off to African Americans

Ella Fitzgerald & Her Battles
Throughout the beginning of her career she was not allowed to be on television or the radio regardless of her popularity
Black women were rarely seen on television because they were seen as a threat to “the existing race-sex hierarchy”
This was evident when Bob Bach had tried to get Ella Fitzgerald to be a part of a network show. The advertisers had stated “She wouldn’t look so good for pictures” (Nicholson 105) and did not allow her to be a part of it.

Ella Fitzgerald & Marilyn Monroe
She was not allowed to perform at the Mocambo club in California because of her race. With the help of Marilyn Monroe things took a turn for her.

Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie and Illinois Jacquet in jail.

Achievements
Was booked in the Monte Carlo Club in Miami
The University of Maryland named one of their campuses after her making her the first African American musician to have a building named after her
In honor of Black History month there was a post stamp created with her face on it
Google in 2013 honored her for the first time on the day of her birthday

Tributes
Ella Fitzgerald & Ray Charles on Family Guy
Google Honors Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald

April 25 1917 – June 15 1996