On June 15, 1996, American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald passes away at the age of 79. Born on April 27, 1917, she was the daughter of William Fitzgerald and Temperance Henry in Newport News, Virginia. She followed her mother and her mother's new partner, Joseph Da Silva, in the early twenties and soon developed a love for dance and music including the works of such performers as Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, and the Bellamy Sisters. Temperance Henry died from injuries sustained in a car accident and not long after Ella Fitzgerald moved in with her aunt. Following trouble with the authorities, she was placed first in the Colored Orphan Asylum in the Bronx and then the New York Training School for Girls before escaping. However, her fortune was about to change.
On November 21, 1934, Ella Fitzgerald took to the stage during Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater and won first prize. The following year she was signed to sing with Chick Webb's orchestra at the Savoy Ballroom and soon gain public acclaim for her signature sound and singing ability. Fitzgerald departed the band to start her solo career in 1942, signing with Decca Records. It was also in this time that she developed her unique style of scat singing in reaction to changing public tastes in jazz music.
Fitzgerald left Decca in 1955 and her manager, Norman Granz, formed Verve Records around her in 1956. Verve Records was purchased by MGM in 1963 and, despite her success, MGM failed to renew Ella Fitzgerald's contract in 1967. She would record more albums with several different labels (including Capitol, Atlantic, and Reprise) and eventually ended up working with Pablo Records, another venture by Norman Granz. Fitzgerald also made appearances in film and television, including Jack Webb's Pete Kelly's Blues and The Andy Williams Show. She also appeared in commercials for Memorex, KFC, and American Express.
Late in her life, Ella Fitzgerald suffered from diabetes and other health issues, being hospitalize in 1985 for respiratory problems, in 1986 for hear failure, and in 1990 for exhaustion. These health issues eventually led to her retiring from recording music in 1991 followed by retiring from public performances in 1993. In 1993, Fitzgerald was forced to have her legs amputated due to complications from diabetes. Ella Fitzgerald spent the final days of her life at home with her son Ray Brown Jr. and her grand-daughter Alice. She passed away following a stroke on June 15, 1996.
Ella Fitzgerald used her position to advocate for civil rights, including requiring that venues at which she performed desegregate their seating for her concerts. She also established the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation in 1993, offering grants for such categories as academic opportunities for children, music education, aid and assistance for the less fortunate, and medical research regarding diabetes, heart disease, and vision impairment. She also supported nonprofit organizations such as the American Heart Association, City of Hope, and the Retina Foundation.
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16 Jun 2018 03:15 CEST
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