BIOGRAPHY
"Ella Fitzgerald was an American jazz singer, considered one of the greatest voices in jazz history. She made her career debut at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem in 1934 and recorded for the first time with Chick Webb's big band in 1935. Fitzgerald signed with Decca Records in 1936 and recorded several albums with them, including 'A-Tisket, A-Tasket' and 'The Cole Porter Songbook'. She toured with Benny Goodman's band in 1938 and released her first solo album, 'Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook', in 1956. Fitzgerald was named 'The First Lady of Jazz' by DownBeat magazine in 1960. She recorded several albums with the Verve Records label, including 'Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook' and 'Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen Songbook'. Fitzgerald was made Commander of the Legion of Honor in France in 1973 and passed away on June 15, 1996, in Beverly Hills, California."