Some sources say that Ella Fitzgerald was born on April 25, 1918, but other sources list her birth date as April 14, 1917. Both dates are probably wrong! One of her friends firmly insisted that Ella was really born in 1920, but that Ella had always said she was born in 1918 so that she could get into show business earlier. Ella was born in Newport News, Virginia, and grew up as a black American during the time of segregation. She once stood up to an older white boy who was teasing her and pushed him down.

Ella Fitzgerald did not like art, and often skipped school to hear Dolly Dawn, a soloist, sing. At about the age of 15 she quit school completely while still in the tenth grade, but later in life said she regretted that decision. After she quit school she joined Chick Webb’s band. In 1939, at 30 years old, the bandleader, Chick Webb died. Ella was both a singer and a composer before and after this tragic event happened. She was given the title "First Lady of Song".

Some of Ella Fitzgerald’s most well-known songs can be found in " The Best of Ella Fitzgerald", "Ella Sings Gershwin", "Lady Be Good!", "The Irving Berlin Songbook", "The Duke Ellington Songbook", "The George and Ira Gershwin Songbook", "The Harold Arlen Songbook", "Mack the Knife: Ella in Berlin", "Fitzgerald and Pass: Again", "Ella and Louis", "A Perfect Match", "Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas", "Ella in Rome: The Birthday Concert", "The Best is Yet to Come", and "All That Jazz".

After Chick Webb died Ella took over as the orchestra leader. She was an excellent singer. Younger singers were inspired and influenced by her. Ella Fitzgerald made people look at jazz and popular music in new ways. Ella died in Beverly Hills, California on June 15, 1996.