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I learned that you should never give up, no matter the situation. You can always do it! You've just gotta have the confidence and determination to do it!

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Along with dancing on the streets for money, even singed as well, this may have been the kick starter to her career. She was featured in one of the earliest Amateur Nights at the Apollo Theater. She Was going to go on stage and dance but got intimidated by the local dance duo the "Edwards Sisters." Because of this she sang instead.

She sung in Connee Boswell's style singing the song "Judy" & "The Object of My Affection." She won first prize. She had also won the chance to perform at Apollo for a week, but due to her shaggy appearance she was never given that part of the prize. In January of 1935 Ella had won the chance to preform with the Tiny Bradshaw band at Harlem Opera House. Later she was introduced to the drummer and bandleader Chick Webb by Bardu Ali! After a bit of Ali persuading Webb, he gave in and offered her the opportunity to test with his band at a dance at Yale University. Ella was then asked to join Webb's orchestra.

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She was quite the student! She had good grades, but unfortunately when they moved, she started to slack off. She skipped school and watched movies with her friends in theater.

(The articles I found didn't say much about her school life and rather focused on her journey instead, so I do apologize for my lack of knowledge on her education.)

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Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

A-Tisket, A-Tasket

It’s Only a Paper Moon

Oh, Lady Be Good

Click on a song to listen to it!

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She is known for her amazing scat singing and music. She's quite the remarkable person in general and for a good reason too; being able to compose, sing, act, etc. It's just amazing to me—the fact she can do all of that and more is just mind-blowing.

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Most of this was covered in the early life section, but I'll try to summarize!

After the death of her mother is when most of her problems began, she ran away from her abusive stepfather and moved in with her aunt. Her aunt couldn't support the both of them in which I can only assume that Ella went off to the streets and got involved with some criminal acts. Due to this, she was sent to an asylum for orphans. She was then sent to a girl's rehabilitation school, which turned out to be more like prison; they neglected her and beat her. She ran away and became a street performer, slowly gaining money.

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At around the age of two and a half her father left the picture leaving her with her mother. (Temperance or Tempie) Tempie struggled and brought her daughter and new boyfriend to the north. (Joseph) She thrived at her new school and took interest in church choir/dance. This passion for jazz came from the various jazz records her mother brought home.

She eventually learned to imitate her favorite singers and dancers and would practice at home furthermore improving her skill. In 1932 her mother Temperance died in a car accident leaving 15-year-old Ella an orphan during the climax of the Great Depression. Allegedly her stepfather mistreated her, at around 1933 she ran off to her aunt's house in Harlem to escape.

Her aunt struggled to support her. She began to skip school and took up work as a lookout at a bordello and as a courier for a numbers runner. Her ties with criminal work got her sent to the overcrowded Colored Orphan Asylum in Riverdale. She was soon moved to the New York Training School for Girls. The school was said to treat the kids badly and it was quite true.

Ella was said to be held in a basement in one of the cottages, being only fed water and bread. They happen to also beat her, this led to her to run away from the school. She learned to dance for tips on 125th Street in New York.

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“I guess what everyone wants more than anything else is to be loved. And to know that you loved me for my singing is too much for me."

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“I guess what everyone wants more than anything else is to be loved. And to know that you loved me for my singing is too much for me."

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“Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong.”

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“Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong.”

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"I never considered myself a singer. My real ambition was to dance."

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"I never considered myself a singer. My real ambition was to dance."

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Birthplace: Newport News, VA

Birth date/death: April 25, 1917 - June 15, 1996

Place of death: Beverly Hills, CA

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Full Name: Ella Jane Fitzgerald

Appellation(s): Queen of Jazz, Lady Ella, First Lady of Song.

Occupations: Composer, Actress, Songwriter, Jazz singer, Film actor, Conductor, Jazz musician.