ella fitzgerald granddaughter alice

Accessed March 19, 2022. https://www.npr.org/2019/09/05/749021799/the-joy-of-ella-fitzgeralds-accessible-elegance. "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" became a major hit on the radio and was also one of the biggest-selling records of the decade. Often referred to as the "First Lady of Song" and the "Queen of Jazz" or just simply "Lady Ella", she was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing and . In his absence the band was renamed Ella Fitzgerald and Her Famous Band, and she took on the overwhelming task of bandleader. Accessed March 18, 2022. https://www.arts.gov/honors/jazz/ella-fitzgerald, Gleason, Holly. Photo Credit:Ella Fitzgerald, November 1946. [6], Starting in third grade, Fitzgerald loved dancing and admired Earl Snakehips Tucker. If the kids like her, Chick said, she stays.. Ella Fitzgerald's Granddaughter Signs First Recording Contract. She asked the band to play Hoagy Carmichaels Judy, a song she knew well because Connee Boswells rendition of it was among Tempies favorites. The Queen of Jazz was born on this day in 1917 . [18] She won the chance to perform at the Apollo for a week but, seemingly because of her disheveled appearance, the theater never gave her that part of her prize. In addition to her work with Webb, Fitzgerald performed and recorded with the Benny Goodman Orchestra. Dubbed The First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgerald was the most popular female jazz singer in the United States for more than half a century. Ella spent most of her time with Ray Jr. and her granddaughter, Alice. In 1932, Tempie died from serious injuries that she received in a car accident. Age. [79], In 1958 Fitzgerald became the first African-American female to win at the inaugural show. "[18], From 1949 to 1956, Fitzgerald resided in St. Albans, New York, an enclave of prosperous African Americans where she counted among her neighbors Illinois Jacquet, Count Basie, Lena Horne, and other jazz luminaries. The students will discuss diversity within the economics profession and in the federal government, and the functions of the Federal Reserve System and U. S. monetary policy, by reviewing a historic timeline and analyzing the acts of Janet Yellen. During this time, Ella enjoyed sitting outside in her backyard, and spending time with Ray, Jr. and her granddaughter Alice. After moving to California when he was 10, Ray discovered a passion for the drums and for singing. Often referred to as the "First Lady of Song," the "Queen of Jazz" and "Lady Ella," she was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing and intonation, and a "horn-like" improvisational ability, particularly in her . Baby It's Cold Outside - Ella Fitzgerald Original Jazz Classics. ella fitzgerald granddaughter aliceoven drawing with parts. Ella Jane Fitzgerald was born in Newport News, Va. on April 25, 1917. In 1997, Newport News, Virginia created a week-long music festival with Christopher Newport University to honor Fitzgerald in her birth city. During this period, she had her last US chart single with a cover of Smokey Robinson's "Get Ready", previously a hit for the Temptations, and some months later a top-five hit for Rare Earth. Accessed March 20, 2022. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ella-Fitzgerald, Ella Fitzgerald. [15] But it was her 1938 version of the nursery rhyme, "A-Tisket, A-Tasket", a song she co-wrote, that brought her public acclaim. https://www.biography.com/musician/ella-fitzgerald. Ella Fitzgerald, in full Ella Jane Fitzgerald, (born April 25, 1917, Newport News, Virginia, U.S.died June 15, 1996, Beverly Hills, California), American jazz singer who became world famous for the wide range and rare sweetness of her voice. She received support from numerous celebrity fans, including a zealous Marilyn Monroe. In fact, many of them had just one binding factor in common they all loved her. Click the link to confirm your email address.Please check your spam folder for the email, if it does not arrive, click this link Sign up to receive email updates and offers from. Photography by William P. Gottlieb. Facebook. baseball font with tail generator. Ella Fitzgerald was born on April 25, 1917, in Newport News, Virginia to mother, Temperance (Tempie) Henry and father, William Fitzgerald. [38] The booking was instrumental in Fitzgerald's career. On April 24, 1997, the Ella Fitzgerald Collection was officially donated to the Library after being on deposit since 1996. Her manager, Norman Granz, was adamant about protecting his colleagues from discrimination, but it did not stop it from happening. Her music consists of more than 10,000 pages of scores, leadsheets and individual musicians parts for more . [5] She began her formal education at the age of six and was an outstanding student, moving through a variety of schools before attending Benjamin Franklin Junior High School in 1929. [72] Although she faced several obstacles and racial barriers, she was recognized as a "cultural ambassador", receiving the National Medal of Arts in 1987 and America's highest non-military honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. [75][76][77], The primary collections of Fitzgerald's media and memorabilia reside at and are shared between the Smithsonian Institution and the US Library of Congress. . You may withdraw your consent at any time. [19], In January 1935, Fitzgerald won the chance to perform for a week with the Tiny Bradshaw band at the Harlem Opera House. In 1974, Ella spent a legendary two weeks performing in New York with Frank Sinatra and Count Basie. In addition, she supported several nonprofit organizations like the American Heart Association, City of Hope, and the Retina Foundation. [45] The film costarred Janet Leigh and singer Peggy Lee. 79. Ella Fitzgerald. National Womens History Museum. The singer was equally hesitant about Granz's vaunted intensity when, four years after she debuted with JATP in 1949, he asked to become her personal manager. Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 - June 15, 1996) was an American jazz vocalist with a vocal range spanning three octaves (D3 to D6). Platinum Collection - White Vinyl by Fitzgerald, Ella / Armstrong, Louis (Record, 2022) $38.97 New. Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 - June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer often referred to as the First Lady of Song, Queen of Jazz and Lady Ella. Ed Dwight created a series of over 70 bronze sculptures at the St. Louis Arch Museum at the request of the National Park Service; the series, "Jazz: An American Art Form", depicts the evolution of jazz and features various jazz performers, including Fitzgerald. Alice Brownvia Ray Brown Jr. Ella Fitzgerald/Grandchildren. She won first place in the competition, but the theater did not award her the full prize. From 1956-1964, she recorded covers of other musicians albums, including those by Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, the Gershwins, Johnny Mercer, Irving Berlin, and Rodgers and Hart. [15] Later that year, she was introduced to drummer and bandleader Chick Webb by Benny Carter[20] or Buck Ram[21] who had heard from singer Charlie Linton that Webb wanted to add a female singer. Although a contemporary Australian press report[33] quoted an Australian Pan-Am spokesperson who denied that the incident was racially based, Fitzgerald, Henry, Lewis and Granz filed a civil suit for racial discrimination against Pan-Am in December 1954[34] and in a 1970 television interview Fitzgerald confirmed that they had won the suit and received what she described as a "nice settlement". [85], On January 9, 2007, the United States Postal Service announced that Fitzgerald would be honored with her own postage stamp. Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County, California, USA . ELLA: A Biography of the Legendary Ella Fitzgerald. She worked with all the jazz greats, from Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Nat King Cole, to Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie and Benny Goodman. [71] In 1954 on her way to one of her concerts in Australia she was unable to board the Pan American flight due to racial discrimination. She considered herself more of a tomboy, and often joined in the neighborhood games of baseball. Fitzgerald also made a one-off appearance alongside Sarah Vaughan and Pearl Bailey on a 1979 television special honoring Bailey. Fitzgerald, Ella: Oh! "I just want to smell the air, listen to the birds and hear Alice laugh," she reportedly said. Hours later, signs of remembrance began to appear all over the world. [9], In July 1957, Reuters reported that Fitzgerald had secretly married Thor Einar Larsen, a young Norwegian, in Oslo. Webb had hired a lead male singer for the band but he was still searching for a female singer. On her last day, she was . Ella was laid to rest at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Los Angeles. One moment, you will be redirected shortly. [3] Her half-sister, Frances da Silva, whom she stayed close to for all of her life, was born in 1923. Lady Be Good (1945-1952) Spotify. Abigail Adams was an early advocate for women's rights. [74] Her goals were to give back and provide opportunities for those "at risk" and less fortunate. In 1986, she received an honorary doctorate of Music from Yale University. They were the dancingest sisters around, Ella said, and she felt her act would not compare. ella had one child that she adopted from her sister Frances da silva. In her lifetime, she won 13 Grammy awards and sold over 40 million albums. You Have to Swing It was one of the first times she began experimenting with scat singing, and her improvisation and vocalization thrilled fans. ta petro employee handbook. Fitzgerald took on the role of bandleader and recorded over 150 songs between 1935 and 1942. World-Renowned Smoke Jazz Club Begins Spring With Four Of Todays Leading Pianists, Album Releases New England Conservatorys Pioneering Jazz Studies And Contemporary Musical Arts Programs Announce Chicago-Based Saxphonist Michael Hudson-Casanova Releases 'Animus', Cynthia Basinet Interview New York Lifestyles Magazine February 2023, 200 Jazz Compositions Inspired By Don Quixote As Research Identifies. Granz required promoters to ensure that there was no "colored" or "white" seating. Ella took the loss very hard. When da Silva died of a heart attack a short time later, Frances moved in too. Her manager, Norman Granz, was adamant about protecting his colleagues from discrimination, but it did not stop it from happening. On her last day, she was wheeled outside one . Once in custody, the authorities sent fifteen-year-old Fitzgerald to reform school in Hudson, New York. She had even gone as far as furnishing an apartment in Oslo, but the affair was quickly forgotten when Larsen was sentenced to five months' hard labor in Sweden for stealing money from a young woman to whom he had previously been engaged. Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra and many others were regular visitors during his childhood. Biography.com Editors. June 16, 1996 12 AM PT. By the end of her career, she had recorded 2,000 songs, earned fourteen Grammy awards and the Presidential Medal of . Aside from music, Fitzgerald was a child welfare advocate and regularly made donations to help disadvantaged youth. Ella Fitzgerald had one adopted son. Died. . Ella Fitzgerald 's revenue is $2M in 2015. (2011367) I realized then that there was more to music than bop. The two were married and eventually adopted a son, whom they named Ray, Jr. At the time, Ray was working for producer and manager Norman Granz on the Jazz at the Philharmonic tour. Ella in Rome and Twelve Nights in Hollywood display her vocal jazz canon. 1, We All Love Ella: Celebrating the First Lady of Song, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Artist, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ella_Fitzgerald&oldid=1142858766, African-American history of Westchester County, New York, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners, United States National Medal of Arts recipients, 20th-century African-American women singers, Articles with dead external links from February 2022, Articles with permanently dead external links, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox musical artist with associated acts, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2014, Articles needing additional references from April 2020, All articles needing additional references, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, From 1943 to 1950, Fitzgerald recorded seven songs with the Ink Spots featuring Bill Kenny. Ella in Berlin is still one of her best-selling albums; it includes a Grammy-winning performance of "Mack the Knife" in which she forgets the lyrics but improvises to compensate. During this time, Ella enjoyed sitting outside in her backyard, and spending time with Ray, Jr. and her granddaughter Alice. [68] In 1949, Norman Granz recruited Fitzgerald for the Jazz at the Philharmonic tour. All rights reserved. The portrait is on display ahead of the 100th anniversary of Fitzgerald's birth. On her last day, she was wheeled . Ultimately, Ray Jr. and Ella reconnected and mended their relationship. [65] Her second marriage was in December 1947, to the famous bass player Ray Brown, whom she had met while on tour with Dizzy Gillespie's band a year earlier. She received many other awards, including honorary doctorates from Yale, Dartmouth, and several other universities. During this time, Ella enjoyed sitting outside in her backyard, and spending time with Ray, Jr. and her granddaughter Alice. Her grades dropped dramatically, and she frequently skipped school. They took us down, Ella later recalled, and then when we got there, they had the nerve to ask for an autograph.. It fueled a career revival that extended her relevance and positioned her to pass the torch to a new generation. Her father, William, and mother, Temperance (Tempie), parted ways shortly after her birth. [86], In April 2013, she was featured in Google Doodle, depicting her performing on stage. The New York Times wrote in 1996, "These albums were among the first pop records to devote such serious attention to individual songwriters, and they were instrumental in establishing the pop album as a vehicle for serious musical exploration. More. Well never share your email with anyone else. [13] When the authorities caught up with her, she was placed in the Colored Orphan Asylum in Riverdale in the Bronx. On June 15, 1996, Ella Fitzgerald died in her Beverly Hills home. Once up there, I felt the acceptance and love from my audience, Ella said. [7] She and her family were Methodists and were active in the Bethany African Methodist Episcopal Church, where she attended worship services, Bible study, and Sunday school. Fitzgerald recorded some 20 albums for the label. Part One includes a chronological listing of all known recorded performances of . As a child, Fitzgerald wanted to be a dancer, but when she panicked . June 15, 2016. Fitzgerald had a number of famous jazz musicians and soloists as sidemen over her long career. Ella Fitzgerald, known to jazz lovers throughout the world as the First Lady of Song, died Saturday at her Beverly Hills home. Features Ella Fitzgerald in two distinct performances. Eventually Ella escaped from the reformatory. Gleason, Holly. In the 1970s, Fitzgerald became the face (and glass-shattering voice) of Memorex tapes. What emerges in Stuart Nicholson's groundbreaking biography is a remarkable story of a poor black girl's determination to realize the American Dream in the face of racial and sexual prejudice. Impressed with her natural talent, he began introducing Ella to people who could help launch her career. Ella spent her final days with her son Ray and 12 year old granddaughter Alice. A progressive social reformer and activist, Jane Addams was on the frontline of the settlement house movement and was the first American woman to wina Nobel Peace Prize. Ella Fitzgerald became a major international star. Ella Fitzgerald had a son before she died nearly three decades ago and he ended up following in her musical footsteps. [70][73], In 1993, Fitzgerald established the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation focusing on charitable grants for four major categories: academic opportunities for children, music education, basic care needs for the less fortunate, medical research revolving around diabetes, heart disease, and vision impairment. . The song will be featured on Friends & Family", the all-star project of duets with Ray Brown, Jr, produced by Shelly Liebowitz. Estimation. Elan Mehler, John Coltrane, Chet Baker and more '40s Pop Vocals. Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you. Ella Fitzgerald & the Tee Carson trio - Summertime (from Porgy and Bess, by George Gershwin).Tee Carson, piano; Keter Betts, bass; Joe Harris, drums.The firs. Although the four members of Fitzgerald's entourage Fitzgerald, her pianist John Lewis, her assistant (and cousin) Georgiana Henry, and manager Norman Granz all had first-class tickets on their scheduled Pan-American Airlines flight from Honolulu to Australia, they were ordered to leave the aircraft after they had already boarded and were refused permission to re-board the aircraft to retrieve their luggage and clothing. Granz helped solidify her position as one of the leading live jazz performers. Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie and Ray Brown (with Milt Jackson). November 2015. In 1942, with increasing dissent and money concerns in Fitzgerald's band, Ella and Her Famous Orchestra, she started to work as lead singer with The Three Keys, and in July her band played their last concert at Earl Theatre in Philadelphia. Despite her declining health, she continued performing, sometimes two shows a day in different cities. On stage, however, Ella was surprised to find she had no fear. Ella Fitzgerald. All I can say is that she gave to me as much as she could, Ray, Jr. later said, and she loved me as much as she could.. It was one of her most prized moments. It had previously been widely reported that Fitzgerald was the first black performer to play the Mocambo, following Monroe's intervention, but this is not true. [14], While she seems to have survived during 1933 and 1934 in part by singing on the streets of Harlem, Fitzgerald made her most important debut at the age of 17 on November 21, 1934, in one of the earliest Amateur Nights at the Apollo Theater. Perhaps in search of stability and protection, Ella married Benny Kornegay, a local dockworker who had been pursuing her. At the Opera House shows a typical Jazz at the Philharmonic set from Fitzgerald. ella fitzgerald granddaughter alice. A link to an external website Ella's Granddaughter Signs First Recording submitted by a fan of Ella Fitzgerald. Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 - June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer often referred to as the First Lady of Song, Queen of Jazz and Lady Ella. "[54] Her last commercial campaign was for American Express, in which she was photographed by Annie Leibovitz. The house was sold in 1963, and Fitzgerald permanently returned to the United States.[42]. she traded the stage for sitting in her backyard with her son and granddaughter, Alice. Harvard gave her an honorary degree in music in 1990. "Ella, elle l'a", a tribute to Fitzgerald written by Michel Berger and performed by French singer France Gall, was a hit in Europe in 1987 and 1988. . [10] Her stepfather took care of her until April 1933 when she moved to Harlem to live with her aunt. She is also honored in the song "First Lady" by Canadian artist Nikki Yanofsky. [11], Fitzgerald began skipping school, and her grades suffered. Her signature style included her iconic vocal range, clear tone and ability to improvise with her hallmark scat singing. Fitzgerald was born on April 25, 1917, in Newport News, Virginia. Find articles, news, musician pages, and more! It was directed by Leslie Woodhead and produced by Reggie Nadelson. https://www.biography.com/musician/ella-fitzgerald, Janet Yellen: The Progress of Women and Minorities in the Field of Economics, Stacey Abrams: Changing the Trajectory of Protecting Peoples Voices and Votes, Chronicles of American Women: Your History Makers, Women Writing History: A Coronavirus Journaling Project, We Who Believe in Freedom: Black Feminist DC, Learning Resources on Women's Political Participation. As the effects from her diabetes worsened, 76-year-old Ella experienced severe circulatory problems and was forced to have both of her legs amputated below the knees. Dubbed "The First Lady of Song," Ella Fitzgerald was the most popular female jazz singer in the United States for more than half a century. Cathy will be remembered as a devoted wife to Frank for over 41 years as well as a loving mother to her children and grandchildren. Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie. It is located southeast of the main entrance to the Amtrak/Metro-North Railroad station in front of the city's old trolley barn. ella fitzgerald granddaughter alice. She performed at top venues all over the world, and packed them to the hilt. Cathy was born in Halifax, N.S. "[43] Amid The New York Times pan of the film when it opened in August 1955, the reviewer wrote, "About five minutes (out of ninety-five) suggest the picture this might have been. She later described the period as strategically crucial, saying, "I had gotten to the point where I was only singing be-bop. Her debut will be a duet with dad Ray Brown Jr. singing Ella's first hit, "Tisket-A-Tasket". They came into Ellas dressing room, where band members Dizzy Gillespie and Illinois Jacquet were shooting dice, and arrested everyone. [81] In 1990, she received an honorary doctorate of Music from Harvard University.[82]. When Fitzgeralds mother died from serious injuries due to a car accident in 1932, Fitzgeralds life changed dramatically. Ms. Colella has since acquired other 78 r.p.m. Ella Fitzgerald. National Womens History Museum. She spent her golden years in the company of her adopted son Ray Brown, Jr. and granddaughter Alice. In 1980, she performed a medley of standards in a duet with Karen Carpenter on the Carpenters' television special Music, Music, Music. In 1987, United States President Ronald Reagan awarded Ella the National Medal of Arts. To support the family, Joe dug ditches and was a part-time chauffeur, while Tempie worked at a laundromat and did some catering. 15 June 1996 (aged 79) Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 - June 15, 1996) was an American jazz vocalist with a vocal range spanning three octaves (D3 to D6). The Song Book series ended up becoming the singer's most critically acclaimed and commercially successful work, and probably her most significant offering to American culture. Photography by William P. Gottlieb. Ella, . Easterling, Michael. By HENRY WEINSTEIN. She recorded several albums with piano accompaniment, but a guitar proved the perfect melodic foil for her. The two divorced in 1952, but remained good friends for the rest of their lives. Ella Fitzgerald. National Endowment for the Arts. Thank you for registering! During this time, she married Benny Kornegay, a local dockworker, but annulled the marriage two years later. "I just want to smell the air, listen to the birds and hear Alice laugh," she said. Although her voice impressed him, Chick had already hired male singer Charlie Linton for the band. "I just want to smell the air, listen to the birds and hear Alice laugh," she said. Her audiences were as diverse as her vocal range. She was called the "First Lady of Song." In a career that spanned 60 years, she became a music legend all over the world. The album was nominated for a Grammy. [9] A few hours after her death, the Playboy Jazz Festival was launched at the Hollywood Bowl. The sets are the most well-known items in her discography. The marriage was annulled in 1942. Perhaps her most unusual and intriguing performance was of the "Three Little Maids" song from Gilbert and Sullivan's comic operetta The Mikado alongside Joan Sutherland and Dinah Shore on Shore's weekly variety series in 1963. Bonnie Greer dramatized the incident as the musical drama, Marilyn and Ella, in 2008. Granddaughter of Ella Fitzgerald signs first recording contract singing a duet of famous Fitzgerald song with dad Ray Brown Jr. on his upcoming all-star Friends and Family duets-style CD. After taking over the band when Webb died, Fitzgerald left it behind in 1942 to start her solo career. Never one to complain, Ella later reflected on her most difficult years with an appreciation for how they helped her to mature. This volume also contains a complete discography (1927-1939) for drummer and bandleader Chick Webb, with whom Ella began her recording career in 1935. Students will analyze different perspectives of Stacey Abramss candidacy for Georgias Governor to learn about civic responsibility. Who is Ella Fitzgerald's granddaughter? I just want to smell the air, listen to the birds and hear Alice laugh, she said. Ella's parents were not married and separated soon after she was born in April 1917 in Newport Mews, Virginia; a few years later, her mother moved north to New York City along with new man. April 24, 2008 -- Los Angeles: Haylee, grand-daughter of Ella Fitzgerald, signed her first recording contract with SRI Jazz. The exhibition, says John Edward Hasse, the museum's curator of American music and founder of Jazz Appreciation Month, tells the story of . Fitzgerald spent two weeks performing in New York with Frank Sinatra and Count Basie in 1974 and was inducted into the. The life of the very private and media-shy Ella Fitzgerald has long been shrouded in a mixture of half-truths and fiction. Her, This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 19:11. Austin's album, For Ella (2002) features 11 songs most immediately associated with Fitzgerald, and a twelfth song, "Hearing Ella Sing" is Austin's tribute to Fitzgerald. Ella Fitzgerald Sings Christmas. She was the last of four great female jazz singers (including Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, and Carmen McRae) who defined one of the most prolific eras in jazz vocal style.Ella had extraordinary vocal skills from the time she was a teenager, and joined the Chick . Additionally, when Frances died, Ella felt she had the additional responsibilities of taking care of her sisters family. When she got into the band, she was dedicated to her musicShe was a lonely girl around New York, just kept herself to herself, for the gig. After financial struggles for Fitzgerald and her band, she began working as lead singer for The Three Keys at Decca Records. Although the tour was a big hit with audiences and set a new box office record for Australia, it was marred by an incident of racial discrimination that caused Fitzgerald to miss the first two concerts in Sydney, and Gordon had to arrange two later free concerts to compensate ticket holders. [26][27] While working for Decca Records, she had hits with Bill Kenny & the Ink Spots,[28] Louis Jordan,[29] and the Delta Rhythm Boys. 2017. Fitzgerald, underage in a discriminatory world, was powerless in the legal system. "Fitzgerald, Ella. It was because of her that I played the Mocambo, a very popular nightclub in the 50s. [70], Bill Reed, author of Hot from Harlem: Twelve African American Entertainers, referred to Fitzgerald as the "Civil Rights Crusader", facing discrimination throughout her career. Fitzgerald's most famous collaborations were with the vocal quartet Bill Kenny & the Ink Spots, trumpeter Louis Armstrong, the guitarist Joe Pass, and the bandleaders Count Basie and Duke Ellington. While on tour, Fitzgerald fell in love with bassist, Ray Brown; the two eventually married, adopted a son, and named him Ray Jr. Her last performance was at Carnegie Hall in New York in 1991. Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 - June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". Ella Fitzgerald. African-American singers Herb Jeffries,[39] Eartha Kitt,[40] and Joyce Bryant[41] all played the Mocambo in 1952 and 1953, according to stories published at the time in Jet magazine and Billboard. This volume is as complete a discography of her recorded songs as currently seems possible to compile. [11] This seemingly swift change in her circumstances, reinforced by what Fitzgerald biographer Stuart Nicholson describes as rumors of "ill treatment" by her stepfather, leaves him to speculate that Da Silva might have abused her.