Post by peaches on Jan 18, 2006 10:20:23 GMT -5
Born in Virginia and raised in New York, Fitzgerald began her professional career at the age of 16. She intended to dance at amateur night at the Harlem Opera House, but she lost her nerve when she got on stage.
"The man said, 'do something while you're out there,' the singer later recalled. "So I tried to sing 'Object of My Affection' and 'Judy,' and I won first prize."
For the victory, Fitzgerald took home $25, and soon signed with Chick Webb and his band, shooting to fame in 1938 with "A-Tisket, A-Tasket."
While jamming with Dizzy Gillespie, the singer was encouraged to improvise.
"I just tried to do what I heard the horns in the band doing," she said -- and playing with words and musical notes, "scat" singing became her signature. (156K AIFF or WAV sound)
Over the years, Fitzgerald won dozens of awards. She dominated the early Grammy ceremonies, winning best female vocal performance three years in a row. In all, she won 13 Grammy awards -- more than any other jazz musician.
But she maintained always an aura of graciousness -- she was at a loss for words when the Society of Singers named an award after her.
"I don't want to say the wrong thing, which I always do," she said. "I think I do better when I sing."
Friends did the talking for her at her many tributes.
"Women like Ella make you feel things that you didn't know were missing in your life," said singer Melissa Manchester.
And Dionne Warwick said Fitzgerald "made the mark for all female singers, especially black female singers, in our industry."
"She is our treasure," said Lena Horne. "We're proud of her. We love her."
Ella Fitzgerald died in her home at the age of 78 peacefully surrounded by family on June 15, 1996.