Ella Fitzgerald (1917-96) had a rough start to her life, living in poverty and actually being homeless for a period. However after winning the Apollo Theater’s amateur contest led to her being hired by Chick Webb in 1935 (Fletcher Henderson made the fatal error of taking a pass), she became a major attraction. Ella was so popular that, after Webb’s passing in 1939, she became the figurehead leader of his ghost band for three years. Ella launched her solo career in 1942, Norman Granz became her manager a few years later, and she never struggled from then on. Decades passed during a whirlwind career of concerts, radio and television appearances, and many recordings. While her voice began to age and decline starting in the late 1970s, she continuing touring the world for another decade and her popularity and the happiness that she expressed while singing never waned.
The Moment Of Truth is a previously unreleased live set from June 30, 1967. At the time, Ella was touring with the Duke Ellington Orchestra but, although they accompany on a few of these numbers (with Jimmy Jones on piano, bassist Bob Cranshaw, and Duke’s regular drummer Sam Woodyard), they have little to do and do not have any solos. The focus is entirely on the singer.
Fortunately Ella Fitzgerald at 50 w
