Young ella fitzgerald pictures biography

EllaFitzgerald’svoice was so powerful and sultry that it makes sense why she is often referred to as the First Lady of Song.

But that’s not the only moniker she was given for her earth-shattering voice.

In the nearly 80 years she lived, Lady Ella also came to be known as the Queen of Jazz ― a fitting name that reflected her inimitable influence on the genre.

Tuesday marks the 100-year anniversary of Fitzgerald’s birth on April 25, 1917, in Newport News, Virginia ― and it’s a perfect moment to reflect on how she overcame adversity and achieved unprecedented success in her career as a black woman at the height of Jim Crow.

Young ella fitzgerald pictures biography

Fitzgerald first gained recognition in 1934 after singing during amateur night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem and went on to win several other singing competitions. Lady Ella impressed crowds so much, she was quickly introduced to influential people in the music industry and attracted admirers everywhere.

She soon landed a gig as a singer on tour with the