Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Jane Fitzgerald was born on April 25, 1917 in Newport News, Virginia. Ella moved with her mother and stepfather to Yonkers, New York in the early 1920s. She was a good student, somewhat musically inclined—and enjoyed hearing records by Louis Armstrong and Bing Crosby in her early teens. She especially loved the singing of Connee Boswell, whom she tried to emulate. Her life was severely disrupted in 1932 when her mother died. She was homeless for a time, and supported herself by singing on the streets of Harlem. She entered and won a talent contest at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, but was denied the week’s booking offered as part of the prize. In early 1935, she met and auditioned for bandleader Chick Webb. Webb was not favorably impressed by her appearance, but included her on a gig at Yale. Her vocal ability and personality won over the band and the audience, and Webb hired her as a full member of the group. She recorded under her own name starting in 1936 with the Savoy Eight (a group of musicians from the Chick Webb Orchestra including Webb himself). When Webb died in 1939, Ella inherited the band as nominal leader. She fronted the band until 1942, when she left to work as a solo performer. In the 1940s, with the decline of the swing era and the emergence of bebop, Ella developed her phenomenal scat-singing ability. She was inspired to scat during her association
You've read three articles this month! That makes you one of a rare breed, the true jazz fan!

The Syncopated Times is a monthly publication covering traditional jazz, ragtime and swing. We have the best historic content anywhere, and are the only American publication covering artists and bands currently playing Hot Jazz, Vintage Swing, or Ragtime. Our writers are legends themselves, paid to bring you the best coverage possible. Advertising will never be enough to keep these stories coming, we need your SUBSCRIPTION. Get unlimited access for $30 a year or $50 for two.

Not ready to pay for jazz yet? Register a Free Account for two weeks of unlimited access without nags or pop ups.

Already Registered? Log In

If you shouldn't be seeing this because you already logged in try refreshing the page.

Or look at our Subscription Options.