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Ella Fitzgerald

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". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, intonation, and a "horn-like" improvisational ability, particularly in her scat singing.

After a tumultuous adolescence, Fitzgerald found stability in musical success with the Chick Webb Orchestra, performing across the country but most often associated with the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. Her rendition of the nursery rhyme "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" helped boost both her and Webb to national fame. After taking over the band when Webb died, Fitzgerald left it behind in 1942 to start her solo career. Her manager was Moe Gale, co-founder of the Savoy, until she turned the rest of her career over to Norman Granz, who founded Verve Records to produce new records by Fitzgerald. With Verve she recorded some of her more widely noted works, particularly her interpretations of the Great American Songbook.

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. 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)". In 1993, after a career of nearly sixty years, she gave her last public performance. Three years later, she died at age 79 after years of declining health. Her accolades included 14 Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts, the NAACP's inaugural President's Award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 25, 1917 (Newport News), Died June 15, 1996 (Beverly Hills)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1935 - 1957

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, songwriter, lyricist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 301-325 of 349 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 86367 6/4/1954 Lullaby of Birdland Ella Fitzgerald vocalist  
Decca 88435 8/1/1955 Soldier boy Ella Fitzgerald vocalist  
Decca 88436 8/1/1955 A satisfied mind Ella Fitzgerald vocalist  
Decca 88456 8/5/1955 My one and only love Ella Fitzgerald vocalist  
Decca 88457 8/5/1955 The impatient years Ella Fitzgerald vocalist  
Decca 88458 8/5/1955 But not like mine Ella Fitzgerald vocalist  
Decca 88459 8/5/1955 The tender trap Ella Fitzgerald vocalist  
Decca 91836 10-in. 10/12/1939 You're gonna lose your gal Ella Fitzgerald vocalist  
Decca 91837 10-in. 10/12/1939 After I say I'm sorry Ella Fitzgerald vocalist  
Decca 91838 10-in. 10/12/1939 Baby, what else can I do? Ella Fitzgerald vocalist  
Decca 91839 10-in. 10/12/1939 My wubba dolly Ella Fitzgerald vocalist  
Decca 91840 10-in. 10/12/1939 Lindy hoppers' delight (Instrumental) Ella Fitzgerald vocalist  
Decca 91841 10-in. 10/12/1939 Moon ray Ella Fitzgerald vocalist  
Decca 102879 7/12/1957 It's too soon to know Ella Fitzgerald vocalist  
Decca DLA 2607 10-in. 7/31/1941 I can't believe that you're in love with me Ella Fitzgerald and her Famous Orchestra vocalist  
Decca DLA 2608 10-in. 7/31/1941 I must have that man Ella Fitzgerald and her Famous Orchestra vocalist  
Decca DLA 2609 10-in. 7/31/1941 When my sugar walks down the street Ella Fitzgerald and her Famous Orchestra vocalist  
Decca DLA 2610 10-in. 7/31/1941 I got it bad (And that ain't good) Ella Fitzgerald and her Famous Orchestra vocalist  
Decca DLA 2611 10-in. 7/30/1941 Melinda the Mousie Ella Fitzgerald and her Famous Orchestra vocalist  
Decca DLA 2612 10-in. 7/30/1941 Can't help lovin' dat man Ella Fitzgerald and her Famous Orchestra vocalist  
Decca L 5097 7/20/1949 Crying Ella Fitzgerald vocalist  
Decca L 5098 7/20/1949 A new shade of blue Ella Fitzgerald vocalist  
Decca L 5191 11/7/1949 Fairy tales Ella Fitzgerald ; Mills Brothers vocalist  
Decca L 5192 11/7/1949 I gotta have my baby back Ella Fitzgerald ; Mills Brothers vocalist  
Decca L 5594 5/9/1950 M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I Ella Fitzgerald vocalist  
(Results 301-325 of 349 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Fitzgerald, Ella," accessed November 18, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/104118.

Fitzgerald, Ella. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 18, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/104118.

"Fitzgerald, Ella." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/104118

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