Ella Fitzgerald: The First Lady Of Song

Ella Fitzgerald, also known as “The First Lady of Song” or “Lady Ella”, was an extraordinary singer highly known in the Harlem Renaissance for her joyful scat singing. Born in Virginia then moving to New York, Fitzgerald grew up during the 1920s and got her breakthrough in the early 1930s. She joined an orchestra/band and produced her first number one single, “A-Tisket, A-Tasket”. Fitzgerald’s contributions to the Harlem Renaissance included her various styles of singing; style of singing that include swing and traditional pop. Fitzgerald is shaped into the woman that she once was through her background, accomplishments, challenges and hardships; she also leaves a legacy that would continue on to influence many generations to come. Born
She did not only struggled with family issues, but she also struggled with the law and school in her teenage years. The year 1941 was the starting point for a whole new set of challenges for Ella. 1941 is the year Fitzgerald met and married Ben Kornegay, who happens to have a criminal record. Once Fitzgerald found out about the record, she soon had the marriage annulled. Upon traveling in a tour with Dizzy Gillespie’s band, Fitzgerald met and fell in love with bassist Ray Brown. They married in 1947 and eventually adopted Fitzgerald’s half-sister, Francis, son whom they named Ray Brown, Jr. In 1952, Fitzgerald and Brown divorced. She then had open heart surgery in 1986 and was suffering from with diabetes. By 1994, diabetes has taken her eyesight and both of her legs. Two years later, Fitzgerald died in Beverly Hills, California on June 15,
She would go on to join Chick Webb and his band to produce her first two number one singles. Still fighting toward the future, Fitzgerald went through two marriages, produced over 200 albums and won thirteen Grammies. She then struggled with health problems from 1986 until her death on June 15, 1996. Even after her death, Fitzgerald left a legacy that inspired the generation after her passing; thus, resulted in a tribute album dedicated to the late singer. Fitzgerald lived a life full of twist and turns, but she kept striving for the future. No matter what obstacles fate throws at her, Fitzgerald persevered through thick and thin to continue