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Ella Fitzgerald Timeline
(April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996)Ella Fitzgerald (1917–1996), known as the 'First Lady of Song,' was an American jazz vocalist celebrated for her pure tone, impeccable diction, and legendary scat singing. Over a career spanning nearly six decades, she recorded over 200 albums, won 14 Grammy Awards, and became one of the most influential and beloved singers in music history. More Less
Early Life
Birth of Ella Fitzgerald
Apr 25, 1917
Ella Jane Fitzgerald was born on April 25, 1917, in Newport News, Virginia. She would go on to become one of the most celebrated jazz vocalists in history.
Image source: Ella Fitzgerald
Half-sister Frances da Silva born
1923
Fitzgerald's half-sister, Frances da Silva, was born in 1923, expanding her family during her childhood years.
Family moves to School Street
1925
By 1925, Fitzgerald and her family had moved to nearby School Street, a poor Italian area, where she spent part of her youth.
Begins formal education
1929
Fitzgerald began her formal education at age six and was an outstanding student, moving through a variety of schools before attending Benjamin Franklin Junior High School in 1929.
Death of her mother
1932
In 1932, when Fitzgerald was 15 years old, her mother died from injuries sustained in a car accident, a devastating loss for the young singer.
Moves to Harlem to live with her aunt
Apr 1933
After her stepfather cared for her for a time, Fitzgerald moved to Harlem in April 1933 to live with her aunt, where she survived partly by singing on the streets.
Career Highlights
Debut at Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater
Nov 21, 1934
At age 17, Fitzgerald debuted on November 21, 1934, in one of the earliest Amateur Nights at the Apollo Theater, a pivotal moment that launched her professional career.
Image source: Apollo Theater
Records with Chick Webb's orchestra
1935 - 1942
Fitzgerald recorded nearly 150 songs with Webb's orchestra between 1935 and 1942, establishing herself as a rising star in the jazz world.
Wins week performing with Tiny Bradshaw band
Jan 1935
In January 1935, Fitzgerald won the chance to perform for a week with the Tiny Bradshaw band at the Harlem Opera House, an early professional opportunity.
'A-Tisket, A-Tasket' brings public acclaim
1938
Fitzgerald's 1938 version of the nursery rhyme 'A-Tisket, A-Tasket', which she co-wrote, brought her widespread public acclaim and made her a household name.
Key Facts
- Ella Fitzgerald was born on April 25, 1917, in Newport News, Virginia, and rose from humble beginnings in Yonkers, New York.
- Her big break came in 1934 when she won an amateur talent contest at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, leading to her joining Chick Webb's orchestra.
- In 1938, she achieved her first major hit with 'A-Tisket, A-Tasket,' which topped the pop charts for weeks.
- She won 14 Grammy Awards throughout her career and was the first African American woman to win a Grammy in 1959 for her songbook recordings of Cole Porter and Duke Ellington.
- Fitzgerald's famous 'Songbook' series preserved the works of great American composers, and she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992 before passing away on June 15, 1996.
Source
This Ella Fitzgerald timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.
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