Ella Fitzgerald was an African-American jazz vocalist who was the first to receive a Grammy Award. Ella Fitzgerald was born in Newport News, Virginia, on April 25, 1917. Ella is referred to as "The First Lady of Song." She was given this name as a result of a compliment from musician Ira Gershwin. For more than half a century, Ella Fitzgerald was the most well-known female jazz vocalist in the United States. Ella started working as a runner for gamblers when she was young to help support her family. At the age of 15, she suffered a huge loss when her mother died as a result of injuries sustained in a vehicle accident, followed by the deaths of her stepfather and younger sister. This loss was devastating to her and had a significant impact on …show more content…
That night, she sang "Judy" by Hoagy Carmichael. Connee Boswell's performance of this song was one of her favorites, so she sang it. The audience demanded that she sing another song at the conclusion of her performance. "The Object of My Affections" was the other song she performed. Ella went on to win every talent show she attended that night. Ella's astonishing ability to emulate every instrument in an orchestra and the tone of her voice could make any song seem fantastic. She won a week of performing with the Tiny Bradshaw band at the Harlem Opera House in 1935.Chick Webb, the bandleader, was there when she met him. He gave her permission to practice with the band. Ella impressed him enough that he recruited her to travel with the band. Ella's debut song, "Love and Kisses," was released in 1936 and was a moderate hit. Ella then recorded a new rendition of the nursery rhyme "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" in 1938. The record went on to sell one million copies and spent 17 weeks at the top of the pop charts. She later fell in love with Ray Brown, married him, and adopted a son named Ray, Jr. in 1946. She achieved a remarkable milestone when President Ronald Reagan of the United States awarded her the National Medal of