Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996), also known as Lady Ella, was one of the most important jazz singers of the 20th Century, the winner of thirteen Grammy Awards, and the National Medal of Art presented by President Reagan. Gifted with a three-octave vocal range, she was noted for her purity of tone, near faultless phrasing and intonation, and a "horn-like" improvisational ability, particularly in her scat singing.

Cultural References

The female jazz singers Dee Dee Bridgewater, Patti Austin, and Ann Hampton Callaway have all recorded albums in tribute to Ella Fitzgerald.

Related Topics:
Dee Dee Bridgewater - Patti Austin - Ann Hampton Callaway

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Bridgewater's 1997 album, 'Dear Ella' featured many musicians that were closely associated with Ella during her career, including the pianist Lou Levy, the trumpeter Benny Powell, and Ella's second husband, the bassist Ray Brown. Bridgewater's next album, 'Live at Yoshi's' was recorded on April 25th 1998, the 81st anniversary of Ella's birth.

Related Topics:
1997 - Ray Brown

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Patti Austin's 2002 album, 'For Ella' features 11 songs most immediatly associated with Ella, and a 12th song, 'Hearing Ella Sing' is Austin's tribute to Fitzgerald. The album was nomiated for a Grammy.

Related Topics:
2002 - Grammy

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Ann Hampton Callaway's 1996 album 'To Ella with Love' features 14 jazz standards made popular by Ella, and the album also features the trumpeter Wynton Marsalis.

Related Topics:
1996 - Wynton Marsalis

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Ella Fitzgerald is also referred to on the 1980' s hit "Ella , elle l' a" by French singer France Gall, and the 1976 Stevie Wonder hit, Sir Duke from his album 'Songs_in_the_Key_of_Life'.

Related Topics:
France Gall - 1976 - Stevie Wonder - Sir Duke - Songs_in_the_Key_of_Life

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In the American Sitcom, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Sally Solomon orders a pizza with extra 'Mozzarella Fitzgerald', and in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Will's grandmother is mistaken for Ella Fitzgerald by an over-eager photographer.

Related Topics:
Sitcom - 3rd Rock from the Sun - The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

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