Preview

Ella Fitzgerald Research Paper

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1838 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Ella Fitzgerald Research Paper
American jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald was the “first lady” of singing, swing, bebop, and ballads. Her career spanned over sixty years, she sold millions of records, and won multiple Grammy awards. She known all over the world. Ella Fitzgerald greatly impacted the way jazz music is today through her use of scatting and her perfect voice. Ella Fitzgerald did not become the “first lady” of these things overnight. She had to go through hardships in order to get to that point. Ella Fitzgerald was born to William Fitzgerald & Temperance “Tempie” Williams Fitzgerald in Newport News, Virginia on April 25, 1917. However, her parents separated shortly after she was born. When they separated Ella moved with her mother to Yonkers, New York, and they …show more content…
She sang a version of “Mack the Knife” by Bobby Darin, and midway through the song, she forgot the lyrics. Instead, of just stopping midway through the song, she improvised and came up with new lyrics. This is method was known as scat. Scat is “vocal improvisation with wordless syllables, combining improvised melodies, motifs and rhythmic patterns using the voice as an instrument, not unlike a trumpet or saxophone.” (Vitro). Ella was known for this, and she really changed the jazz was performed. “Fitzgerald was known for her clarity of voice and her perfect pitch. According to many, it was perfect pitch that enabled her to successfully perform the “scat” singing—the singing of nonsense words and syllables to embellish a melody.” (Extravagant Crowd). Ella Fitzgerald is the most influential person when it comes to scat. Ella Fitzgerald has influenced artists like Adele whose album 25 is at the top of the charts. As well as Regina Carter who is a jazz violinist and considers Ella Fitzgerald to be her idol.
During the 1970’s Ella began touring with Frank Sinatra, who is a famous jazz singer. Though, in 1971, her career had to come to a halt because of cataract surgery. Because of this she was doing less concerts, but still performed as much as she could. Within a three-year span Ella worked with 40 different symphonies including the Boston Pops. She never let her condition stop her from doing what she
…show more content…
She persevered through the toughest of situations, and she never let it get in the way of her singing, and she was so successful because of the attitude that she had. If she wanted to do something she really set her mind to it and never gave up. Ella Fitzgerald incorporated scat into her singing. No one could do it quite like her, so many people looked up to her. Ella was so successful because of the attitude that she had. Ella Fitzgerald once said, “A lot of singers think all they have to do is exercise their tonsils to get ahead. They refuse to look for new ideas and new outlets, so they fall by the wayside... I'm going to try to find out the new ideas before the others

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Louis Armstrong

    • 468 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Louis Armstrong, arguably the greatest entertainer, and trumpet player during the renaissance era. Louis Armstrong was inspired by people such as Joe the king Oliver, Lil Hardin, and Peter Davis. Louis Armstrong was one of the most famous and influential performers in the entire history of jazz. Louis Armstrong began to be noticed by important people in the 1920’s and the early 1930’s.…

    • 468 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Lena Horne an honorary lady of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated was a great artist in the Harlem Renaissance era. Lena abilities to sing and act paved a way for many African Americans. Due to her skin complexion, she receives roles that other African American women couldn’t get. She was the first black female to receive a very long contract with MGM. Her impact encourages many great women singers today because she broke the color barrier in music. I think if it wasn’t for Lena Horne, we wouldn’t have as many women singers and rappers in the music world today.…

    • 428 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Florence Mills, AKA the queen of happiness, born 1-25-1896, was famous for many things. One outstanding thing she did was make an successful group called “the mills sisters”. Also she played in over 300 flawless performances. Some that you may know her by is “Shuffle Along”. It was over 17 people who tried out and florence was the 1 out of 3 people who made it out.…

    • 601 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Harris (1915–1959) was an African American jazz singer and songwriter. Her singing style, strongly inspired by jazz musicians, lead to a new way of using word choice and rhythm. A critic named John Bush once wrote that Holiday "changed the art of American pop vocals forever." She only co-wrote a few songs, but a number of them have become jazz standards that many musicians strive to live up to. Some of these standards were set by songs of hers such as "God Bless the Child", "Don't Explain", "Fine and Mellow", and "Lady Sings the Blues". She also became famous for singing "Easy Living", "Good Morning Heartache", and "Strange Fruit", a protest song which became one of her standards and was made famous with her…

    • 442 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Native American had a big influence on Jazz music in America. Mildred Bailey was one of the most prominent Native American women in Jazz music. Bailey began singing at the age of Sixteen. Her mother inspired her to sing on a trip to her reservation in Idaho. When her family moved to Spokane, Washington Mildred and her brother began working with Bing Crosby. She began singing at the age of sixteen, then in the 1920s she traveled to Los Angeles to further her musical career. After moving to Los Angeles, Mildred Bailey was introduce to Paul Whitman with who she joined his band. Around this time, she also began her recording with one of her most popular songs, “Rockin’ Chair.” At the bottom of this slide, you can listen to Rockin’ Chair.…

    • 132 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    As a child, Grace Hopper had great technical skills. She would disassemble an alarm clock and put it back together just for fun. Grace was born on December 9, 1906 in New york city. She grew and became a remarkable woman where she attended Vassar College and graduated in 1928 with a Bachlor in mathematics and physics. After her graduation she became one of the faculty as a associate professor at Vassar College and continued studying mathematics at Yale Unniversity. Because of her personality, she became a great leader and began programming the first computers and Mark series of computers. In 1943, she joined the United States Navel to help her county and was assigned…

    • 259 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    In the blossoming era of the blues only three short years after it went mainstream the “Empress of the Blues” began her career. She was a strong black woman with a rags-to riches story who was able to rise from performing on the streets to be the most successful blues singer in her era. Her music and life is filled with sex and violence and while many blues singers have come and gone, very few ever made such an impact with such a short career as she did.…

    • 1049 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Maya Bell Mrs. Jorgenson US History 8 Sept. 4 2014 Summit (number 1): Ella Baker Opening statement: 1. My name is Ella Baker. I was born on December 13, 1903. My grandmother was a black slave. She used to tell me stories of being whipped by her owner.…

    • 582 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Selena Quintanilla

    • 1371 Words
    • 6 Pages

    “Never in my dreams would I have thought I would become this big. I am still freaking out” (Tower 245). This quote was made my Selena Quintanilla, a contemporary artist. Selena wasn’t aiming for that big in the charts or in popularity. After all the years of practice, rehearsals, and hard-work, the unexpected blow of being number one shocked her. Selena was doing it just for her family, herself, and for fun. What made her so popular and interesting was the true power, her music cross-over. Selena Quintanilla was known as the Mexican Madonna because of her sultry voice and energetic dance movements and, also, earned the title “Queen of Tejano” because of her music and the distinction of crossing the musical barrier that all Latino artists were afraid of making.…

    • 1371 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Etta James

    • 1299 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Nicholson, Stuart. Ella Fitzgerald: a Biography of the First Lady of Jazz. New York: C. Scribner 's Sons, 1994. Print.…

    • 1299 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Tina Turner

    • 393 Words
    • 2 Pages

    One of the world's most popular entertainers, Turner has been called the most successful female rock artist[5] and was named "one of the greatest singers of all time" by Rolling Stone.[6] Her albums and singles have sold nearly 180 million copies worldwide.[7][8] She has sold more concert tickets than any other solo music performer in history.[9][10] She is known for her energetic stage presence,[2] powerful vocals, career longevity,[9] and widespread appeal.[11] In 2008, Turner left semi-retirement to embark on her Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour.[12][13] Turner's…

    • 393 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Many people get encouraged by the artist Selena Gomez. She is a woman who will not give up, and whose heart is like pure gold. Selena Gomez is an American singer and actress who is popular worldwide. I have a great passion for Selena Gomez ever since she has come on in the hit show “Wizards of Waverly Place.” Although her acting career begins in 2000 when she appeared in a children’s television series, “Barney.” She has also starred in films/shows that led her to her fame, and is currently right now working on a new film.…

    • 293 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Essay On Billie Holiday

    • 955 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Billie Holiday is one of the greatest jazz singers of her time. Although her legacy shines bright, her life was often plagued by the adversity of drugs, men, and alcohol. Critics do not give enough credit to the struggle of Billie Holiday, whose highs and lows were commonly expressed through her strong vocals and combination of blues, jazz, and swing. She, unlike any other artist, came from nothing in Baltimore and found different avenues to rise through jazz history. Similar to her immediate family, she ends up in the entertainment industry, of singing, dancing, and police custody. Different sources argue that she was a victim of her childhood and others explain that the era in which she became popular is the reason why she came to an untimely…

    • 955 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Singing, It’s like loving somebody. It’s a supreme emotional and physical experience.” Hi, I’m Janis Joplin and I’m the queen of rock and roll! I was born January 19th, 1943 in Port Arthur, Texas. At the age of 6 I would sing in my church choir. About 8 years later, bullying and being made fun of due to my acne and weight gain really hit me hard. Just wanting to be myself was hard enough. I made a comment about how different skin colors shouldn’t define anyone and got a ton of hatred. My wardrobe contained the total opposite of the popular girls’. Being a rebellious teen was fun. After highschool I decided to go to college but ended up realizing that college wasn’t made for me, so I quit after the first…

    • 505 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Marilyn Monroe

    • 331 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Her contributions of being an entertainer, singer, dancer, model, actress, and wife lend themselves to the way she inspires people today. She had an effortless way of making people feel good about themselves. She constantly had a smile on her face. She was mysterious. She was intelligent and proved it over and over again.…

    • 331 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays

Related Topics