Ella Fitzgerald

Ella was born in Newport News on April 25 in 1917. After her birth her parents (William and Tempie) got divorced. Tempie and Ella moved in with Tempie's longtime boyfriend Joseph da Silva in Yonkers, N.Y.

Ella grew up in a mixed neighborhood and made friends easily. She liked sports such as baseball but also enjoyed singing and dancing. Some nights she and her friends went to Harlem and watched different acts at the Apollo Theater.

On one evening she even had the opportunity to compete in Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater. She originally planned to compete as a dancer but then she was so nervous and her body was shaking that she made a last minute decision to sing. The audience loved her and was demanding an encore.

On stage Ella felt comfortable, was self-confident and seemed to have no fears. However, off the stage she was a very shy girl who was unsecure about her appearance and abilities.

"Once up there, I felt the acceptance and love from my audience," Ella said. "I knew I wanted to sing before people the rest of my life."

Benny Carter (saxophonist and arranger) heard her singing that night and was impressed with her natural Talent. He began pushing her career by introducing her to important people. They became good friends and were often working together.

Ella continued to participate in competition she could find and won almost every talent show. 1935 she was offered to perform for a week with the Tiny Bradshaw band at the Harlem Opera House.

Among other musicians such as Charlie Richard Parker, Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong Ella gave with her voice a special touch to the Harlem renaissance.

Ella's voice was famous for its flexibility, she could sing in a wide range and her intonation was brilliant. She could sing in various styles and imitate every instrument in the orchestra. Her scat singing became very famous.

She had the chance to work with the best Jazz artist of that time from Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Nat King Cole, to Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie and Benny Goodman.