[5] She began her formal education at the age of six and was an outstanding student, moving through a variety of schools before attending Benjamin Franklin Junior High School in 1929. In 2008, the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center in Newport News named its new 276-seat theater the Ella Fitzgerald Theater. Together they adopted a child born to Fitzgerald's half-sister, Frances, whom they christened Ray Brown Jr. With Fitzgerald and Brown often busy touring and recording, the child was largely raised by his mother's aunt, Virginia. Fitzgerald spent two weeks performing in New York with Frank Sinatra and Count Basie in 1974 and was inducted into the Downbeat Magazine Hall of Fame in 1979. When the band was touring in Dallas, Texas, the police barged into Fitzgeralds dressing room and arrested her, Dizzy Gillespie, and Illinois Jacquetbecause of Granzs civil rights advocacy. They lived there with her mother's boyfriend, Joseph Da Silva. After financial struggles for Fitzgerald and her band, she began working as lead singer for The Three Keys at Decca Records. Despite her declining health, she continued performing, sometimes two shows a day in different cities. Mark, Geoffrey. Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". "[18], From 1949 to 1956, Fitzgerald resided in St. Albans, New York, an enclave of prosperous African Americans where she counted among her neighbors Illinois Jacquet, Count Basie, Lena Horne, and other jazz luminaries. The two divorced in 1952, but remained good friends for the rest of their lives. Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor: Culinary Anthropologist, Towards Hawaiian Sovereignty: Legacy of Dr. Haunani-Kay Trask, Dr. Wangari Maathai: The story of a leader in social, environmental, and political activism and first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, Chronicles of American Women: Your History Makers, Women Writing History: A Coronavirus Journaling Project, We Who Believe in Freedom: Black Feminist DC, Learning Resources on Women's Political Participation. Sa demi-sur Frances Da Silva nat en 1923. Austin's album, For Ella (2002) features 11 songs most immediately associated with Fitzgerald, and a twelfth song, "Hearing Ella Sing" is Austin's tribute to Fitzgerald. At the Opera House shows a typical Jazz at the Philharmonic set from Fitzgerald. In 1974, Ella spent a legendary two weeks performing in New York with Frank Sinatra and Count Basie. Fitzgerald also made a one-off appearance alongside Sarah Vaughan and Pearl Bailey on a 1979 television special honoring Bailey. This changed when Temperance, also known as Tempie, developed a romantic relationship with Joseph Da Silva. She received support from numerous celebrity fans, including a zealous Marilyn Monroe. In 1934 Ellas name was pulled in a weekly drawing at the Apollo and she won the opportunity to compete in Amateur Night. [7] She and her family were Methodists and were active in the Bethany African Methodist Episcopal Church, where she attended worship services, Bible study, and Sunday school. [55], Ella Fitzgerald Just One of Those Things is a film about her life including interviews with many famous singers and musicians who worked with her and her son. The story of a leader in social, environmental, and political activism and first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Fitzgerald's half-sister, Frances Da Silva, was born in 1923. [72] Although she faced several obstacles and racial barriers, she was recognized as a "cultural ambassador", receiving the National Medal of Arts in 1987 and America's highest non-military honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Years later, when Joesph Da Silva had a heart attack, Aunt Virginia also took in Fitzgerald's sister, Frances. Fitzgerald became an international star. She never fully recovered from the surgery, and afterward, was rarely able to perform. In January 1935, Fitzgerald won the chance to perform with the Tiny Bradshaw Band at the Harlem Opera House where she met Chick Webb, the drummer and band leader. It was one of her most prized moments. It was a turning point in my life."[9]. [44], In her most notable screen role, Fitzgerald played the part of singer Maggie Jackson in Jack Webb's 1955 jazz film Pete Kelly's Blues. Under Normans management, Ella joined the Philharmonic tour, worked with Louis Armstrong on several albums and began producing her infamous songbook series. "[9], In 1932, when Fitzgerald was 15 years old, her mother died from injuries sustained in a car accident. Soon after Ella was born, her parents separated. Occupation Singer Family Father - William Fitzgerald Mother - Temperance "Tempie" (Williams) Others - Frances da Silva (Half-Sister) Manager Moe Gale and Norman Granz served as Ella Fitzgerald's managers. She received many other awards, including honorary doctorates from Yale, Dartmouth, and several other universities. In 1947, she married Ray Brown, a famed . Her, This page was last edited on 26 April 2023, at 20:02. Perhaps nave to the circumstances, Ella worked as a runner for local gamblers, picking up their bets and dropping off money. By 1925, Fitzgerald and her family had moved to nearby School Street, a poor Italian area. Britannica. After moving to California when he was 10, Ray discovered a passion for the drums and for singing. Fitzgerald's half-sister, Frances Da . Considered to be one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century, she also was known as Lady Ella. Ella continued to work as hard as she had early on in her career, despite the ill effects on her health. Her parents were unmarried but lived together in the East End section of Newport News for at least two and a half years after she was born. Ed Dwight created a series of over 70 bronze sculptures at the St. Louis Arch Museum at the request of the National Park Service; the series, "Jazz: An American Art Form", depicts the evolution of jazz and features various jazz performers, including Fitzgerald. [52] In the commercials, she sang a note that shattered a glass while being recorded on a Memorex cassette tape. Ultimate Symbol Incorporated. Initially living in a single room, her mother and Da Silva soon found jobs and Ella's half-sister, Frances Da Silva, was born in 1923. [24] Ella and the band recorded for Decca and appeared at the Roseland Ballroom, where they received national exposure on NBC radio broadcasts. En 1925, la famille dmnage proximit de School Street, un quartier italien pauvre . [5] By 1925, Fitzgerald and her family had moved to nearby School Street, a poor Italian area. 2014. Fitzgerald's half-sister, Frances Da Silva, was born in 1923. It was the 26th time she performed there. To support the family, Joe dug ditches and was a part-time chauffeur, while Tempie worked at a laundromat and did some catering. Frances, Fitzgerald's half-sister, was born in 1923. . [87][88], On April 25, 2017, the centenary of her birth, UK's BBC Radio 2 broadcast three programmes as part of an "Ella at 100" celebration: Ella Fitzgerald Night, introduced by Jamie Cullum; Remembering Ella; introduced by Leo Green; and Ella Fitzgerald the First Lady of Song, introduced by Petula Clark. She recorded nearly 150 songs with Webb's orchestra between 1935 and 1942. While Fitzgerald appeared in films and as a guest on popular television shows in the second half of the twentieth century, her musical collaborations with Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and The Ink Spots were some of her most notable acts outside her solo career. s longtime boyfriend Joseph Da Silva. Ella Fitzgerald Biography. Biography.com Website. Ella Fitzgerald. In 1932, Tempie died from serious injuries that she received in a car accident. Doctors also replaced a valve in her heart and diagnosed her with diabetes, which they blamed for her failing eyesight. [70], Bill Reed, author of Hot from Harlem: Twelve African American Entertainers, referred to Fitzgerald as the "Civil Rights Crusader", facing discrimination throughout her career. The following year she again performed with Joe Pass on German television station NDR in Hamburg. Initially living in a single room, her mother and Da Silva soon found jobs and Ella's half-sister, Frances Da Silva, was born in 1923. On June 15, 1996, Fitzgerald passed away at her home. Ella Fitzgerald, November 1946. her sons name was ray jr. ella's sister Frances still did take care of ray jr. but he was in ella's custody . [67], Fitzgerald was a civil rights activist, using her talent to break racial barriers across the nation. "[43] When, later in her career, the Society of Singers named an award after her, Fitzgerald explained, "I don't want to say the wrong thing, which I always do but I think I do better when I sing. Fitzgerald recorded some 20 albums for the label. Harlem Renaissance. . Shortly afterward Joe suffered a heart attack and died, and her little sister Frances joined them. Ella Jane Fitzgerald was born in Newport News, Va. on April 25, 1917. She performed with influential singers like Bill Kenny & the Ink Spots and Louis Jordan. The surprise success of the 1972 album Jazz at Santa Monica Civic '72 led Granz to found Pablo Records, his first record label since the sale of Verve. [3] [4] As a youngster, Fitzgerald wanted to be a dancer. lang, Queen Latifah, Ledisi, Dianne Reeves, Linda Ronstadt, and Lizz Wright, collating songs most readily associated with the "First Lady of Song". "[53] She also appeared in a number of commercials for Kentucky Fried Chicken, singing and scatting to the fast-food chain's longtime slogan: "We do chicken right! She was awarded the National Medal of Arts by Ronald Reagan in 1987. She was self-conscious about her appearance, and for a while even doubted the extent of her abilities. [32] This was the first of Gordon's famous "Big Show" promotions and the "package" tour also included Buddy Rich, Artie Shaw and comedian Jerry Colonna. In tribute, the marquee read: "Ella We Will Miss You. I owe Marilyn Monroe a real debt, Ella later said. Ella Fitzgerald, in full Ella Jane Fitzgerald, (born April 25, 1917, Newport News, Virginia, U.S.died June 15, 1996, Beverly Hills, California), American jazz singer who became world famous for the wide range and rare sweetness of her voice. Additionally, when Frances died, Ella felt she had the additional responsibilities of taking care of her sisters family. Bonnie Greer dramatized the incident as the musical drama, Marilyn and Ella, in 2008. (Or rather, some might say all the jazz greats had the pleasure of working with Ella.). Her last performance was at Carnegie Hall in New York in 1991. ella had one child that she adopted from her sister Frances da silva. (1947) was similarly popular and increased her reputation as one of the leading jazz vocalists.[31]. Ella Fitzgerald was born in 1917 in Newport News, Virginia, United States to William and Temperance "Tempie" Fitzgerald. Ella Fitzgerald website. "[64] Her funeral was private,[64] and she was buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California. Unable to adjust to the new circumstances, Ella became increasingly unhappy and entered into a difficult period of her life. Accessed March 19, 2022. https://www.npr.org/2019/09/05/749021799/the-joy-of-ella-fitzgeralds-accessible-elegance. Despite her declining health, she continued performing, sometimes two shows a day in different cities. She was awarded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Equal Justice Award and the American Black Achievement Award. Fitzgerald and her mother moved to Yonkers, New York to move in with da Silva. Born in Newport News, Va., in 1917, Fitzgerald came north with her mother, Temperance "Tempie" Fitzgerald, and stepfather, Joseph da Silva, when she was 2, at the start of the Great Migration. Despite the tough crowd, Ella was a major success, and Chick hired her to travel with the band for $12.50 a week. Find out about Frances da Silva's family tree, family history, ancestry, ancestors, genealogy, relationships and affairs! He offered Fitzgerald the chance to test with the band during their performance at Yale University. Ella Jane Fitzgerald was born in Newport News, VA on April 25, 1917. Fitzgerald was a great student. Biography.com Editors. They lived there with her mother's boyfriend, Joseph Da Silva. anyway, thanks. Unfortunately, busy work schedules also hurt Ray and Ellas marriage. Ella had one sister: Frances Da Silva . Born on April 17, 1917 Ella Fitzgerald was raised in the integrated neighborhood of Newport News, Virginia. Ella played with the new style, often using her voice to take on the role of another horn in the band. Her father, William, and mother, Temperance (Tempie), parted ways shortly afterward. Although a contemporary Australian press report[33] quoted an Australian Pan-Am spokesperson who denied that the incident was racially based, Fitzgerald, Henry, Lewis and Granz filed a civil suit for racial discrimination against Pan-Am in December 1954[34] and in a 1970 television interview Fitzgerald confirmed that they had won the suit and received what she described as a "nice settlement". The child, whom they named Ray Brown Jr., was raised in New York City before his family moved . Photo Credit:Ella Fitzgerald, November 1946. In 1991, she gave her final concert at New Yorks renowned Carnegie Hall. Once, while in Dallas touring for the Philharmonic, a police squad irritated by Normans principles barged backstage to hassle the performers. Still going strong five years later, she was inducted into the Down Beat magazine Hall of Fame, and received Kennedy Center Honors for her continuing contributions to the arts. Struggling financially, the young Fitzgerald helped her family out by working as a messenger "running numbers" and acting as a lookout for a brothel. [11], Fitzgerald began skipping school, and her grades suffered. [9], In July 1957, Reuters reported that Fitzgerald had secretly married Thor Einar Larsen, a young Norwegian, in Oslo. They were rich and poor, made up of all races, all religions and all nationalities. 1, We All Love Ella: Celebrating the First Lady of Song, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Artist, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ella_Fitzgerald&oldid=1151875043, African-American history of Westchester County, New York, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners, United States National Medal of Arts recipients, 20th-century African-American women singers, Articles with dead external links from February 2022, Articles with permanently dead external links, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox musical artist with associated acts, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2014, Articles needing additional references from April 2020, All articles needing additional references, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, From 1943 to 1950, Fitzgerald recorded seven songs with the Ink Spots featuring Bill Kenny. Once on stage, faced with boos and murmurs of Whats she going to do? from the rowdy crowd, a scared and disheveled Ella made the last minute decision to sing. In 1997, Newport News, Virginia created a week-long music festival with Christopher Newport University to honor Fitzgerald in her birth city. These partnerships produced some of her best-known songs such as "Dream a Little Dream of Me", "Cheek to Cheek", "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall", and "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)". Aside from music, Fitzgerald was a child welfare advocate and regularly made donations to help disadvantaged youth. During Ella Jane Fitzgerald and Ray Brown's relationship, they adopted a child that was born to Ella's half-sister, Frances. One in particular opened doors for her. 2017. She never knew her father, William Fitzgerald. Her first career aspiration was to become a . Yes she has a half-sister name Frances Da Silva. On the touring circuit it was well-known that Ellas manager felt very strongly about civil rights and required equal treatment for his musicians, regardless of their color. other parent: William Fitzgerald. If Christopher williams was born in 1967, this means his mother had him when she was 44. interesting. Fitzgerald then published her first of eight song books, Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book (1956). [6], Starting in third grade, Fitzgerald loved dancing and admired Earl Snakehips Tucker. A bust of Fitzgerald is on the campus of Chapman University in Orange, California. [10] Her stepfather took care of her until April 1933 when she moved to Harlem to live with her aunt. Biography.com Editors. Fitzgerald felt at home on the stage and less self-conscious. [83] Fitzgerald is also referred to in the 1976 Stevie Wonder hit "Sir Duke" from his album Songs in the Key of Life, and the song "I Love Being Here With You", written by Peggy Lee and Bill Schluger. 2022. The Song Book series ended up becoming the singer's most critically acclaimed and commercially successful work, and probably her most significant offering to American culture. The world responded with memorials and gratitude for the revolutionary gifts she gave to the world. Ella Fitzgerald had a son before she died nearly three decades ago and he ended up following in her musical footsteps. Frances da Silva's uncles and aunts: A later collection devoted to a single composer was released during her time with Pablo Records, Ella Abraa Jobim, featuring the songs of Antnio Carlos Jobim. Toshiko Akiyoshi changed the face of jazz music over her sixty-year career. Ella Jane Fitzgerald was born in Newport News, Virginia, the child of a common-law marriage between William and Temperance "Tempie" Fitzgerald. With her Methodist family, she was. In school, Fitzgerald sang in the glee club, but her real . Joseph Da Silva. It had previously been widely reported that Fitzgerald was the first black performer to play the Mocambo, following Monroe's intervention, but this is not true. reinc: The story of a company founded by four US Womens National Team soccer players seeking to challenge norms and inspire lasting progress. Her many awards and accolades are a reflection of the colossal inspiration she was to many. She asked the band to play Hoagy Carmichaels Judy, a song she knew well because Connee Boswells rendition of it was among Tempies favorites. [14], While she seems to have survived during 1933 and 1934 in part by singing on the streets of Harlem, Fitzgerald made her most important debut at the age of 17 on November 21, 1934, in one of the earliest Amateur Nights at the Apollo Theater. Frances Da Silva Ella Fitzgerald Marriage, Affairs and Children SPOUSE Benny Kornegay (1941-1943) SPOUSE Ray Brown (1947-1953) Fame & Address DEBUT Souvenir Album (1949) FAMOUS FROM/AS Ella and Louis (1956) www.facebook.com/EllaFitzgerald Official Website www.ellafitzgerald.com Education, Net Worth & More SCHOOLING FROM [9] In 1985, Fitzgerald was hospitalized briefly for respiratory problems,[59] in 1986 for congestive heart failure,[60] and in 1990 for exhaustion. Although the four members of Fitzgerald's entourage Fitzgerald, her pianist John Lewis, her assistant (and cousin) Georgiana Henry, and manager Norman Granz all had first-class tickets on their scheduled Pan-American Airlines flight from Honolulu to Australia, they were ordered to leave the aircraft after they had already boarded and were refused permission to re-board the aircraft to retrieve their luggage and clothing. By 1925, Fitzgerald and her family had moved to nearby School Street, then a predominantly poor Italian area. ella Fitzgerald had one child, whos name was ray jr. she adopted him from her half sister, Frances da silva Wiki User 2011-09-13 02:06:38 This answer is: Add a Comment Study guides. In 2007, he appeared in a BBC documentary talking about his mother entitled Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song. Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 - June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". In the mid-1940s, she began singing for Jazz at the Philharmonic, a concert series started by her manager, Norman Granz. [35], Fitzgerald was still performing at Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic (JATP) concerts by 1955. In 1941, Ella Fitzgerald married Benny Kornegay, a drug dealer and dockworker. https://www.biography.com/musician/ella-fitzgerald. The New York Times wrote in 1996, "These albums were among the first pop records to devote such serious attention to individual songwriters, and they were instrumental in establishing the pop album as a vehicle for serious musical exploration. Her first marriage was in 1941, to Benny Kornegay, a convicted drug dealer and local dockworker. Ella's mother and her new partner, a Portuguese immigrant named Joseph da Silva, moved to Yonkers, in Westchester County, New York. Her parents separated their common-law marriage early in Ella's life, and Ella and her mother moved to Yonkers, near New York City with Fitzgerald's mother's new partner, a Portuguese immigrant named Joseph da Silva. The pair separated soon after her birth and she and her. Fitzgerald also had celebrity supporters, such a Marilyn Monroe, who personally called venues to make sure they booked her for performances. Duke Ellington and his longtime collaborator Billy Strayhorn both appeared on exactly half the set's 38 tracks and wrote two new pieces of music for the album: "The E and D Blues" and a four-movement musical portrait of Fitzgerald. [63] Her eyesight was affected as well.[9]. She personally called the owner of the Mocambo, and told him she wanted me booked immediately, and if he would do it, she would take a front table every night. She could sing sultry ballads, sweet jazz and imitate every instrument in an orchestra. Her grades dropped dramatically, and she frequently skipped school. Fitzgerald also faced racial discrimination while on tour. The pair separated soon after her birth, and Ella and her mother went to Yonkers, New York, where they eventually moved in with Tempie's longtime boyfriend, Joseph Da Silva. The family grew in 1923 with the arrival of Fitzgerald's half-sister Frances. Perhaps in search of stability and protection, Ella married Benny Kornegay, a local dockworker who had been pursuing her. I realized then that there was more to music than bop. Fitzgerald was born on April 25, 1917, in Newport News, Virginia. . Ella Fitzgerald: A Biography of the First Lady of Jazz, Updated Edition. Also in 2007, he attended the ceremony for the Ella Fitzgerald stamp produced by the United States Postal Service. She quickly became a favorite and frequent guest on numerous programs, including The Bing Crosby Show, The Dinah Shore Show, The Frank Sinatra Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show, The Nat King Cole Show, The Andy Willams Show and The Dean Martin Show.. By 1953, the couple had split. Her audiences were as diverse as her vocal range. Ella Jane Fitzgerald was born in Newport News, Virginia on April 25, 1917. [84], There is a bronze sculpture of Fitzgerald in Yonkers, the city in which she grew up, created by American artist Vinnie Bagwell. Worth To Know She died of stroke in 1996. Fitzgerald married at least twice, and there is evidence that suggests that she may have married a third time. Granz helped solidify her position as one of the leading live jazz performers. NPR. Did Ella Fitzgerald have a sister? Ella's half-sister, Frances Fitzgerald was born in 1923. Ella was only fifteen years old. They were the dancingest sisters around, Ella said, and she felt her act would not compare. In her youth Fitzgerald wanted to be a dancer, although she loved listening to jazz recordings by Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby and The Boswell Sisters. "Fitzgerald, Ella. While recording the Song Books and the occasional studio album, Fitzgerald toured 40 to 45 weeks per year in the United States and internationally, under the tutelage of Norman Granz. He offered Ella the opportunity to test with his band when they played a dance at Yale University. Ella Fitzgerald. She had even gone as far as furnishing an apartment in Oslo, but the affair was quickly forgotten when Larsen was sentenced to five months' hard labor in Sweden for stealing money from a young woman to whom he had previously been engaged. All I can say is that she gave to me as much as she could, Ray, Jr. later said, and she loved me as much as she could.. After a private memorial service, traffic on the freeway was stopped to let her funeral procession pass through. Fitzgerald and Browns busy schedules took a toll on their relationship with their son and their marriage. However, they stayed friends for the rest of their lives. On June 15, 1996, Ella Fitzgerald died in her Beverly Hills home. Shortly afterward, Ella began singing a rendition of the song, (If You Cant Sing It) You Have to Swing It. During this time, the era of big swing bands was shifting, and the focus was turning more toward bebop. In the process he and Ella became lifelong friends, often working together. Ella in London recorded live in 1974 with pianist Tommy Flanagan, guitarist Joe Pass, bassist Keter Betts and drummer Bobby Durham, was considered by many to be some of her best work. Photography by William P. Gottlieb. After her heart surgery and a diabetes diagnosis in 1986, Fitzgerald exceeded expectations by continuing to perform. There are several live albums on Verve that are highly regarded by critics. Le couple part s'installer Yonkers dans le comt de Westchester, prs de New York o Ella grandit. Harvard gave her an honorary degree in music in 1990. In her youth Fitzgerald wanted to be a dancer, although she loved listening to jazz recordings by Louis . France followed suit several years later, presenting her with their Commander of Arts and Letters award, while Yale, Dartmouth and several other universities bestowed Ella with honorary doctorates. There, she was beaten by her caretakers and faced terrible treatment. It was the beginning of a lifelong business relationship and friendship. On March 15, 1955, Ella Fitzgerald opened her initial engagement at the Mocambo nightclub in Hollywood,[36][37] after Marilyn Monroe lobbied the owner for the booking. [9] A few hours after her death, the Playboy Jazz Festival was launched at the Hollywood Bowl. Her half-sister, Frances Da Silva, was born in 1923. It was there that Ella first met drummer and bandleader Chick Webb. $510 - $530. Frances da Silva, her half-sister, was born in 1923 and remained close to her throughout her life. Easterling, Michael. ( 284) Free 3-5 Day Delivery. She was also frequently featured on The Ed Sullivan Show. Accessed March 19, 2022. https://www.npr.org/2019/09/05/749021799/the-joy-of-ella-fitzgeralds-accessible-elegance. Fitzgerald's most famous collaborations were with the vocal quartet Bill Kenny & the Ink Spots, trumpeter Louis Armstrong, the guitarist Joe Pass, and the bandleaders Count Basie and Duke Ellington.

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