Ella Fitzgerald
To some, Ella Fitzgerald had a hard life from the moment she was born.
To others, Ella had it made. Ella Fitzgerald was born April 25th 1917
in Virginia. Soon afterwards, her parents separated and Ella followed
her mother to Yonkers, New York. Ella was barely a teenager when her
mother died. While still coping with this tragedy, Ella found herself
failing school and having frequent run-ins with the police. She was
also abused by her caretakers while in the custody of a reform school.
At age 15 Ella ran away from school along with the horrible memories
of that time. Somehow she managed to support herself through the Great
Depression, a feat that is most commendable. Ella found her refuge in
attending the Apollo theatre, famous for its amateur competitions. At
17, she entered the competition and wooed the crowd with her
incredible vocals.
In the crowd that night were notable jazz artists of the time
including Benny Carter and Bardu Ali, who conducted the Chick Webb
orchestra. Ella began working and touring with the orchestra from 1935
and eventually took over as band leader in 1939. Although Ella had
obtained this status so early in her career, her enthusiasm to learn
and form business relationships never ceased. Ella was a professional
and was very good at what she did - not only because of her rare
talent but for her mature attitude at such a young age.
Many black female jazz vocalists of Ella's era found themselves caught
up in the industry. Many of these artists became driven by money, sex
and drugs and died at a young age, like the late Billie Holiday. Ella
remained different from this crowd and as a resul...
... middle of paper ...
...
Ella also appeared on many television chat shows during the 1960s and
1970s. These included the Nat "King" Cole Show, the Tonight Show and
the Ed Sullivan show.
Ella's health unfortunately started to decline in the 1980s. She
became severely ill with diabetes and had both legs amputated below
the knee before her death in 1996. Ella remains immortal through song
and is still seen as one of the greatest jazz vocalists of all time.
By performing at predominantly white clubs Ella opened up new
possibilities for aspiring black jazz musicians in the big cities.
Ella's fans are as diverse as her vocal stylings - both black and
white fell in love with the songster. Ella Fitzgerald revolutionized
the way jazz ballads were sung with her sensitivity and naturalness
and also had a powerful influence over the industry itself.
In June of 1925, Florence received vaudeville's highest honor. She was the star attraction at the Palace Theatre. By heading the bill at the Palace, she became the first black performer to have that honor.
witted, and had an amazing sense of humor. Her husband was a lady's man and
Not only was she smart, she had a lot of leadership skills which was helpful because she was the oldest of ten children. She only grew to about five feet tall and had dark brown hair. In her youth, she enjoyed music, sewing,
According to Ruth Feldstein “Nina Simone recast black activism in the 1960’s.” Feldstein goes on to say that “Simone was known to have supported the struggle for black freedom in the United States much earlier, and in a more outspoken manner around the world than many other African American entertainers.” Her family ties to the south, her unique talent, her ability to travel and make money are similar to the Blues women movement that preceded her. It can be said that Nina Simone goes a step further the by directly attacking inequities pertaining to race and gender in her music. However, what distinguishes her is her unique musicianship and that is what ultimately garners her massive exposure and experiences over those of her past contemporaries.
Born February 9, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York as Carole Klein, she was playing the piano by the age of four. While still in high school she was in her first band, the Co-Sines. Carole was a huge fan of Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller (the duo who penned hits for Elvis Presley, the Coasters and Ben E. King), she became a regular at DJ Alan Freed's local Rock 'N' Roll shows. She met songwriters Paul Simon and Neil Sedaka as well as Gerry Goffin, whom she later forged a writing partnership with, while attending Queens College.
Dorothy West was a novel and short story writer. She was born on June 2, 1907 in
Her first play, A Raisin In the Sun, is based on her childhood experiences of desegregating a white neighborhood. It won the New York Drama Critic's Circle Award as Best Play of the Year. She was the youngest American, the fifth woman and the first black to win the award. Her success opened the floodgates for a generation of modern black actors and writers who were influenced and encouraged by her writing.
However, even though she was loved by all, she was also feared by many. She could make you feel really special and amazing when she wanted to and then the next moment she would be your enemy.
Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday were both prominent jazz singer-songwriters during the same time and masters in their own right, but their worlds could not have been further apart. In 1939, while they were both in the midst of experiencing mainstream success, Ella was touring with Ella and her Famous Orchestra and showcasing her perfect pitch and tone to the world while singing songs that would soon become standards to fellow singers and musicians. Billie was singing solo, comfortable with her limited range, and gaining the adoration of audiences nationwide who loved her soulful voice. Both of these historic singers made contributions to the art of jazz, with vocalists and instrumentalists still using elements of their style today. Ella
By the end of World War I, Black Americans were facing their lowest point in history since slavery. Most of the blacks migrated to the northern states such as New York and Chicago. It was in New York where the “Harlem Renaissance” was born. This movement with jazz was used to rid of the restraints held against African Americans. One of the main reasons that jazz was so popular was that it allowed the performer to create the rhythm. With This in Mind performers realized that there could no...
because she was almost never seen and when people did catch a glimpse of her she
She was made to do jobs that she felt she was way too good for.
She had a good education and special training in dressmaking and fancy sewing which was very useful to her as well as others in her later years as a pioneer in Utah.
she is, but she had a strong mind on her, so she could overcome the
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins is a young 21st century music composer. She is a United Kingdom, as well as, American, soul, R&B, and pop sensation. She has won numerous Grammy nominations and awards in her early career, being only twenty-five years old. Adele will have many more awards to come to her in her future career. Adele has had at least five number one hits since she was signed at just nineteen years old. As she emerged into her teen years she had many inspirations.