How Did Ella Fitzgerald's Life Influence The Great Gatsby

Fitzgerald once said, ““It isn't where you came from; it's where you're going that counts.” Fitzgerald was a powerful and elegant woman who used her voice to make a difference. Throughout her life she has experienced ups and downs, impacting everyone around her for the better. Her childhood and work all contributed to the amazing life she lived. Ella Fitzgerald uses her powerful voice to influence her message throughout the Harlem Renaissance; this is seen through her song, “ In Each Life Some Rain Must Fall.”
Although she may have seemed to have a great life due to her success, where she came from is quite different. Fitzgerald grew up in a very unfortunate family. Born in 1917 in Virginia, her family participated in the Great Migration and

Nothing was ever easy for Fitzgerald, “Life in Yonkers remained difficult, but she always had an irrepressible spirit; her neighbors and childhood friends would remember her as always singing and dancing, determined that one day she would be a star” (Dotsey 1). Her father left her as a baby and in 1932, her mother passed away. Living with her aunt, Fitzgerald was in a very rough state. At such a young age, she went through trauma many don’t go through in a lifetime. Her mother’s death impacted her tremendously and her life was forever changed. She dropped out of school and eventually became homeless. Having to accept family deaths, loss of education and a home, for many people, this would be the end. Yet, never giving up on her dream, “She regularly performed on 125th street in Harlem, and on November 21, 1934, she took part in the amateur night contest at the Apollo Theater” (Dotsey 1). The audience loved her and soon, her dream took off. Her ability to get up on a stage and sing for the people showed strength and power. Charle Linton was tasked at finding a lead vocalist for the band when he came across Fitzgerald. Because of the beauty standards in America, when he introduced her

Her talent for singing was very important because she had the power to express her emotions. The lyrics of her songs all come from a place within and are more than just a catchy tune. Her song In Each Life Some Rain Must Fall, Fitzgerald’s emotions shine through the piece. The song discusses the idea that bad things will happen to everyone at some point in their life. She wants to relate her struggles growing up to the listeners so they know that everyone experiences hardships. One of the verses reads “Into each and every life, the rain is bound to fall/But too much of that has started fallin' on mine/Now into each and every heart, some tears are gonna fall/But I know and you know, someday the sun is gonna shine” (Fitzgerald 1). Bad things are bound to happen but it cannot stop you from phishing forward. If Fitzgerald can get past the rain that is falling on her life and be successful, anyone can. The rain falling symbolizes grief and the bad in the world. The idea of a thundercloud over someone helps paint the scene of what Fitzgerald is trying to portray. And the sun that is bound to shine again is a symbol of the light at the end of the tunnel. The inspiration of this piece came directly from the hardships Fitzgerald experienced and how she was able to make it in the world. Many of the listeners are able to relate to her grief and “Ella Fitzgerald’s bluesy ballads can help you get through it with your