| Ella Fitzgerald Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 ft 4½ in |
| Weight | 90 kg |
| Date of Birth | April 25, 1917 |
| Zodiac Sign | Taurus |
| Date of Death | June 15, 1996 |
Ella Fitzgerald was an American jazz singer who is often referred to as the “First Lady of Song”, “Queen of Jazz”, and “Lady Ella”. Her discography includes several albums like Ella Sings Gershwin, Songs in a Mellow Mood, Lullabies of Birdland, For Sentimental Reasons, Sweet and Hot, Like Someone in Love, Ella Swings Lightly, Ella and Her Fellas, Ella Fitzgerald Sings Sweet Songs for Swingers, Get Happy!, Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas, Rhythm Is My Business, Ella Sings Broadway, These Are the Blues, Whisper Not, Brighten the Corner, Misty Blue, Lady Time, Fine and Mellow, and Hello, Love. Her career spanned nearly 60 years and her accolades included 14 Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Born Name
Ella Jane Fitzgerald
Nick Names
The First Lady of Song, The First Lady of Jazz, The Queen of Jazz, Lady Ella
Age
She was born on April 25, 1917.
Died
On June 15, 1996, she died from a stroke at the age of 79 in Beverly Hills, California, United States.
Sun Sign
Taurus
Born Place
Newport News, Virginia, United States
Residence
She resided in Beverly Hills, California, United States.
Nationality
Education
Ella Fitzgerald attended Benjamin Franklin Junior High School.
Occupation
Singer
Family
- Father – William Fitzgerald
- Mother – Temperance “Tempie” (Williams)
- Others – Frances da Silva (Half-Sister)
Manager
Moe Gale and Norman Granz served as Ella Fitzgerald’s managers.
Genre
Jazz, Swing, Bebop, Traditional Pop, Blues, Soul, Doo-wop, Post-bop, Rock and Roll
Instruments
Vocals
Labels
Decca Records, Verve Records, Capitol Records, Reprise Records, Pablo Records
Net Worth
According to CelebrityNetWorth.com, her net worth was $10 Million at the time of her death.
Build
Large
Height
5 ft 4½ in or 164 cm
Weight
90 kg or 198.5 lbs
Boyfriend / Spouse
Ella Fitzgerald had dated –
- Nelson Riddle – It is RUMORed that she once had an affair with arranger, composer, bandleader, and orchestrator Nelson Riddle.
- Benny Kornegay (1941-1943) – Ella Fitzgerald got married to Benny Kornegay, a convicted drug dealer, and local dockworker, in 1941 but the marriage was annulled in 1942.
- Ray Brown (1947-1953) – In December 1947, she married jazz double-bassist Ray Brown whom she had met while on tour with Dizzy Gillespie’s band a year earlier. They adopted a child born to Fitzgerald’s half-sister, Frances, whom they christened Ray Brown Jr. The couple divorced in 1953 but remained friends as well as occasionally worked together.
- Thor Einar Larsen – It was reported by Reuters in July 1957 that Fitzgerald had secretly married a young Norwegian named Thor Einar Larsen in Oslo. However, the relationship was soon forgotten when he was sentenced to 5 months’ hard labor in Sweden for stealing money from a young woman to whom he had previously been engaged.
Race / Ethnicity
Black
Ella Fitzgerald was of African-American descent.
Hair Color
Dark Brown
Eye Color
Dark Brown
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- Mezzo-soprano vocals
- Scat singing
Brand Endorsements
Ella Fitzgerald had been cast in TV commercials for –
- Kentucky Fried Chicken
- Memorex audio tape (1976-1978)
She had also done print adverts for –
- Memorex tape (1977)
- American Express credit cards (1988-1989)
Religion
Methodism
Ella Fitzgerald Facts
- She was 15 years old when her mother died from injuries sustained in a car accident in 1932.
- Ella established the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation in 1993 and also supported many nonprofit organizations like the American Heart Association, City of Hope, and the Retina Foundation.
- She gave her last public performance in 1993.
- Ella Fitzgerald was friends with Marilyn Monroe, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Tony Bennett, and Julie London.
Featured Image by William P. Gottlieb / The Library of Congress / Public Domain
