Person · Female

Ella Fitzgerald

American jazz singer

From: Newport News, United States
Active: 1917–1996
Rating: ★ 4.85 (6 votes)
Releases: 795

jazz
swing
vocal jazz
blues
big band
pop
smooth jazz
traditional pop

About

Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996) was an American jazz vocalist, songwriter and composer, 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 in 1939, Fitzgerald left it behind in 1942 to start her solo career. Fitzgerald's 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, Fitzgerald recorded some of her more widely noted works, particularly her interpretations of the Great American Songbook.
Fitzgerald also appeared in films and as a guest on popular television shows in the second half of the twentieth century. Outside her solo career, Fitzgerald created music with Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and The Ink Spots. These partnerships produced 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 60 years, Fitzgerald gave her last public performance. Three years later, Fitzgerald 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.

From Ella Fitzgerald on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Member of

Discography

Albums 82

Showing 60 of 82. See them all on MusicBrainz

EPs 11

Singles 73

Showing 60 of 73. See them all on MusicBrainz

Live 69

Showing 60 of 69. See them all on MusicBrainz

Compilations 559

Showing 60 of 559. See them all on MusicBrainz

Other 1

The Reprise Years 2006

Married

Ray Brown 1947–1953

Supporting musician

Stanley Harris now

Also known as

Ella Fitzgerard · Ella Fiztgerald · Ella Fiztgerarld · Ella Jane Fitzgerald · First Lady of Song · Fitzgerald · Lady Ella · Queen of Jazz · エラ・フィッツジェラルド

Identifiers

MusicBrainz: 54799c0e-eb45-4eea-996d-c4d71a63c499
ISNI: 0000000108548546
IPI: 00010318443

Data from MusicBrainz, saved 12 Nov 2026. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, covers from the Cover Art Archive and Apple Music.

Ella Fitzgerald

About

Member of

Discography

Links

Listen

Official

Social

Concerts

Buy

Reference

Married

Supporting musician

Also known as

Tags

Identifiers