Fitzgerald, Ella

Ella Fitzgerald Popular singer Newport News, Virginia, April 25, 1918; Beverly Hills, California, June 15, 1996. Fitzgerald was the most highly acclaimed jazz vocalist of her day. However, she began her career in pop music, singing with Chick Webb’s orchestra. She scored her first hit with “ A-Tisket , A-Tasket” (Decca 1840), which became the best-selling record of the decade. After Webb died in 1939, Fitzgerald took over the band until World War II made it impossible to keep it on the road…