Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Jane Fitzgerald, the 'First Lady of Song,' was the most technically accomplished and widely beloved jazz vocalist in history. While primarily a jazz and pop singer, her connection to the blues was fundamental: she could sing the blues with authentic feeling and swing, as demonstrated on recordings with Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington. Her pure intonation, extraordinary range, impeccable rhythm, and scat singing ability set standards that remain unmatched. She won 13 Grammy Awards and sold over 40 million albums. Her appearance in the C.C. Blues programming reflects the blues continuum that runs through the Great American Songbook.