Ella Jane Fitzgerald (born April 25, 1917) was known for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, intonation, and horn-like improvisation skills, especially in scat singing. ¹⁾

Fitzgerald found a kind of stability in musical success with the Chick Webb Orchestra, performing throughout the United States. She was also associated with the Savoy Ballroom and performances in New York's Harlem. Her rendition of the children's nursery rhyme “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” helped Webb gain fame across the United States. ²⁾

In 1991, after a career spanning nearly 60 years, she gave her last public performance. ³⁾

She died at age 79 after years of illness. Her honors included fourteen Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. ⁴⁾

Between 1956 and 1964, she recorded a 19-volume “songbook” series in which she interpreted nearly 250 outstanding songs by Richard Rodgers, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, and Johnny Mercer. This material combined with the best jazz instrumental support clearly demonstrated Ella Fitzgerald's extraordinary interpretive skills. ⁵⁾