Ella Fitzgerald – The ‘First Lady of Song’

Ella Fitzgerald, the legendary singer from the US, whose great vocal range won her the epithet ‘the first lady of song’ and ‘the queen of jazz’, has been commemorated in the Google doodle today. The extraordinary singer, who was also known in the name “Lady Ella”, was a jazz vocalist with a vocal range spanning over three octaves, which is a rare aptitude for any singer across the world.

Ella Fitzgerald was born in Newport News, Virginia to William and Temperance “Tempie” Fitzgerald on April 25, 1917. She would have been 96 today had she lived. The artist had a career spanning over six decades and was best known for her purity of tone, perfect diction, phrasing and modulation.

In her 59-year of recording career, ‘the queen of jazz’ sold 40 million copies of her 70-plus albums, won 13 Grammy Awards and was awarded the National Medal of Arts by Ronald Reagan in 1987 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George H. W. Bush. She recorded with other great artists including Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Louis Armstrong too. Her precious collection included jazz, show tunes, bossa nova and opera.

Ella blessed at several major US TV shows, including the Bing Crosby 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 as a guest and won heart of the audience with her song.

The legendary singer presented her final concert at New York’s Carnegie Hall in 1991 and later died on 15 June 1996 at the age of 79.