Five things I did not know about Ella Fitzgerald

Five things I did not know about Ella Fitzgerald

1. She was born in 1917 in Virginia, but moved with her mother to New York State as a child, part of the Great Migration of African Americans seeking a better life in the northern states.
2. Her mother died in a car crash in 1932, when Ella was only 15. She fell out with her stepfather and became homeless for a time.
3. Her first hit was a version of a children’s rhyme “A Tisket A Tasket”, released in 1938
4. In 1954 she was three days late to a tour of Australia, because she and three other black tour members were not allowed to board their flight from Honolulu to Sydney.
5. She was active in the Civil Rights movement and refused to perform at segregated venues.

Something I did know: Ella’s was one of the great singing voices. This is one of her back catalogue. “I’ll Never Be Free” was a minor hit for her in 1950. Singing with Louis Jordan and his fine band, Ella makes it just shine.

• Artist: Ella Fitzgerald
• A side: “Dream a Little Dream of Me” (with Louis Armstrong)
• B side: “I’ll Never Be Free” (with Louis Jordan)
• Format: 10”, 78 rpm, shellac, mono
• Label: Decca
• Made in: Australia
• Catalogue: Y6302
• Year: 1950

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