Welcome to our 35th #womanoftheweek! Today, we will be discussing Ella Fitzgerald, an African American singer! Enjoy!
Born on April 25, 1917, Ella Fitzgerald was an icon in her time. Commonly called "The First Lady of Song”, she was one of the most prominent jazz singers of the 1900s. She had a difficult childhood, as her mother died when she was fifteen. Ella lived with her aunt for a little while, then later tried to make it on her own. She entered talent competitions, where she would sing or dance, to earn money and stay afloat.
Her career truly began when she became a singer for the band Chick Webb and His Orchestra. Following Webb’s death, Fitzgerald took over and became the leader for the band, which became Ella Fitzgerald and Her Famous Orchestra. While in the band, she released a hit song ‘A-Tisket, A-Tasket’, which blew her and the band up into national fame. However, she left the band behind in 1942 to focus on a solo career. She signed with Decca Records shortly after and began including her iconic scat singing in her performances. Her scat record of “Flying Home” soon became one of the “most influential vocal jazz records of the decade” according to the New York Times. Her popularity and commercial success continued to increase, as she signed with Verve Records, and released some of her most popular work under them.
Fitzgerald’s last public performance was in 1991, ending a career that spanned over five decades. She faced several barriers from being a black female artist at the height of racial discrimination in the United States. She had the respect of the biggest names in her industry and influenced several present-day artists such as Adele, Lady Gaga, and Lana Del Ray.
This is a Woman of the Week article, a weekly deep dive into an amazing woman of color. For more incredible stories like this one, check out our article on Chiaki Mukai and Sarah Winnemuca! Make sure to follow us at @likeagirlglobal on Instagram for more updates and original content!
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