HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Ella Fitzgerald's Sophisticated Moon

Birth of Swing Jazz: Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald

Born on 25 April 1917 in Newport News, Virginia, swing vocalist, Ella Fitzgerald, would become famous for scat singing while firmly establishing the places of Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington in musical history, herself to become known as the First Lady of Song.

By twists and turns, when Fitzgerald's mother died of heart attack in 1932 she found herself without a guardian and was placed in an orphanage in the Bronx, then the New York Training School for Girls, a reformatory in Hudson, New York, from which she escaped. She began performing at the Apollo Theater in Harlem in November 1934 as the result of winning a singing contest. She won another competition at the Harlem Opera House in January of 1935. It was May of 1935 when Chick Webb hired her to sing with his orchestra at the Savoy. Fitzgerald made her first recordings on June 12, 1935, backed by Webb's orchestra. Those included 'Love and Kisses'.

'I'll Chase the Blues Away' Ella Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald's first recording

Recorded 12 June 1935 in NYC Matrix 39614-A Brunswick 02602

Chick Webb and His Orchestra:

Trumpet: Mario Bauza / Bobby Stark / Taft Jordan

Trombone: Fernando Arbello / Sandy Williams

Clarinet / alto sax: Pete Clarke Alto sax: Edgar Sampson

Tenor sax: Elmer Williams / Wayman Carver (flute)

Piano: Joe Steele Guitar: John Trueheart

Bass: John Kirby Drums: Chick Webb

Composition: Edgar Sampson / Ken Harrison

'Love and Kisses' Ella Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald's fourth recording

Recorded 12 June 1935 in NYC Matrix 39617-A Decca 494

Chick Webb and His Orchestra:

Trumpet: Mario Bauza / Bobby Stark / Taft Jordan

Trombone: Fernando Arbello / Sandy Williams

Clarinet / alto sax: Pete Clarke Alto sax: Edgar Sampson

Tenor sax: Elmer Williams / Wayman Carver (flute)

Piano: Joe Steele Guitar: John Trueheart

Bass: John Kirby Drums: Chick Webb

Composition: Sonny Curtis

'Mr. Paganini (You'll Have to Swing It)' Ella Fitzgerald

Recorded 29 Oct 1936 in NYC Matrix 61361-A Decca 1032

Chick Webb and His Orchestra:

Trumpet: Mario Bauza / Bobby Stark / Taft Jordan

Trombone: Sandy Williams / Nat Story

Clarinet / alto sax: Pete Clarke Alto sax: Edgar Sampson

Tenor sax: Teddy McRae Baritone sax: Wayman Carver

Piano: Tommy Fulford Guitar: John Trueheart

Bass: Beverly Peer Drums: Chick Webb Arrangement: Van Alexander

Composition: Sam Coslow

While with Webb Ella met alto saxophonist, Louis Jordan, with whom she continuously collaborated for the several years. Her initial session with Jordan in Webb's operation was on 14 January 1937: 'Take Another Guess' and 'Time Marches On'. Jordan followed Fitzgerald into her own orchestra upon Webb's death and remained with her until his Tympany Five in 1950, they recording ''Tain't Nobody's Business If I do' and 'I'll Never Be Free' with that ensemble.

'Take Another Guess' Ella Fitzgerald

Recorded 14 Jan 1937 in NYC Matrix 61527-A Decca 1123

Chick Webb and His Orchestra:

Trumpet: Mario Bauza / Bobby Stark / Taft Jordan

Trombone: Sandy Williams / Nat Story

Clarinet / alto sax: Pete Clarke Alto sax: Louis Jordan

Tenor sax: Teddy McRae / Wayman Carver (baritone)

Piano: Tommy Fulford Guitar: John Trueheart

Bass: Beverly Peer Drums: Chick Webb Arrangement: Van Alexander

Composition: Al Sherman / Charles Newman / Murray Mencher

It was with Chick Webb's organization that Ella first topped the Billboard popularity charts at #1 with the June 1938 issue of 'A-Tisket, A-Tasket'. 'A-Tisket, A-Tasket' was originally a traditional English nursery rhyme sung in a game called 'Drop the Glove' with a melody that matched other famous rhymes like 'It's Raining, It's Pouring' and 'Ring Around the Rosie'. Fitzgerald adapted the song along with Al Feldman (aka Van Alexander) and it became her best-selling title overall. Fitzgerald's next Top Ten (my convention) arrived in November of 1938 per 'F.D.R. Jones' at #8 followed by the December issue of 'I Found My Yellow Basket' written by Fitzgerald and Webb at #3. Fitzgerald placed numerous titles in the top ten of Billboard to as late as 'Mack the Knife' at #6 in 1960, some notably with the Ink Spots, Louis Armstrong and Louis Jordan:

   A-Tisket, A-Tasket #1   6/1938
   F.D.R. Jones #8   11/1938
   I Found My Yellow Basket #3   12/1938
   I Want the Waiter (With the Water) #9   1939
   Undecided #8   1939
   Five O'Clock Whistle #9   1/1941
   My Heart and I Decided #6   1943
   When My Sugar Walks Down the Street #22 / #2 Country   3/1944
   And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine #10   1/1945
   That's My Desire #3 R&B   1947
   It's Too Soon to Know #6 R&B   1948
   My Happiness #6 R&B   6/1948
   Smooth Sailing #3 R&B   9/1951
   Mack the Knife #6 R&B   4/1960

Top Ten titles with the Inkspots:

   Cow-Cow Boogie #10 / #1 R&B   3/1944
   I'm Making Believe #1 /#2 R&B   11/1944
   Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall #1 / #1 R&B   11/1944
   I'm Beginning to See the Light #5   4/1945

Top Ten titles with Louis Armstrong:

You Won't Be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart) #10 4/1946
The Frim Fram Sauce #4 R&B 4/1946

Top Ten titles with Louis Jordan:

   Petootie Pie #3 R&B   6/1946
   Stone Cold Dead in the Market (He Had It Coming) #1 R&B   7/1946
   Baby, It's Cold Outside #6 / #6 R&B   1949
   I'll Never Be Free #7   1950

'A-Tisket A-Tasket' Ella Fitzgerald

Recorded 2 May 1938 in NYC Matrix 63693-A Decca 1840

Chick Webb and His Orchestra:

Trumpet: Mario Bauza / Bobby Stark / Taft Jordan

Trombone: Nat Story / Sandy Williams / George Matthews

Clarinet / alto sax: Garvin Bushell Alto sax: Louis Jordan

Tenor sax: Teddy McRae / Wayman Carver

Piano: Tommy Fulford Guitar: Bobby Johnson

Bass: Beverly Peer Drums: Chick Webb Arrangement: Van Alexander

Composition: adaptation of a traditional English game and nursery rhyme

The combination of Fitzgerald and Web was enormously successful until Webb's early death in June of 1939. Her last recordings with Chick had been in May of 1939, the month before his death. Those were for a radio broadcast from the Southland Cafe in Boston yielding 'A New Moon and an Old Serenade' among others. Fitzgerald then became the nominal (in name only) head of Webb's ghost band called Ella and her Famous Orchestra until 1942. Her first recordings with her Famous Orchestra had gone down in June of 1939 per 'Betcha Nickel' and 'Out of Nowhere' among others.

'My Heart Belongs to Daddy' Ella Fitzgerald

Recorded 17 Feb 1939 in NYC Matrix 65043-A Decca 2309

Chick Webb and His Orchestra:

Trumpet: Mario Bauza / Bobby Stark / Taft Jordan

Trombone: Sandy Williams / Nat Story / George Matthews

Clarinet / alto sax: Garvin Bushell Alto sax: Hilton Jefferson

Tenor sax: Teddy McRae / Wayman Carver (arrangement)

Piano: Tommy Fulford Guitar: Bobby Johnson

Bass: Beverly Peer Drums: Chick Webb

Composition: Cole Porter for the musical 'Leave It to Me!'

'Betcha Nickel' Ella Fitzgerald and Her Famous Orchestra

Recorded 29 June 1939 in NYC Matrix 65903-A Decca 2904

Trumpet: Dick Vance / Bobby Stark

Trombone: George Matthews / Nat Story / Sandy Williams

Clarinet / alto sax: Garvin Bushell Alto sax: Hilton Jefferson

Tenor sax: Teddy McRae / Wayman Carver (baritone)

Piano: Tommy Fulford Guitar: John Trueheart

Bass: Beverly Peer Drums: Bill Beason

Composition: Chick Webb / Ella Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald also frequently recorded with the vocal harmony group, the Ink Spots, their first such occasion in NYC on November 3, 1943, yielding 'Cow Cow Boogie'. Several occasions followed, including with her orchestra, into 1945, with another occasion to occur as late as December 1950: 'Little Small Town Girl' and 'I Still Feel the Same About You'.

'Cow Cow Boogie' Ella Fitzgerald w the Ink Spots

Recorded 3 Nov 1943 in NYC Matrix 71482-A Decca 18587

Trumpet: Johnny McGhee

Piano: Bill Doggett Guitar: Bernie Mackay

Bass: Bob Haggart Drums: Johnny Blowers

The Ink Spots:

Bill Kenny / Charles Fuqua / Ivory Watson / Happy Jones

Composition: Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler

Fitzgerald also employed the Delta Rhythm Boys, they first recording with her orchestra on March 27, 1945, a couple takes each of 'It's Only a Paper Moon' and 'Cry You Out of My Heart'. That vocal group would sing with Ella's orchestra again on August 29 of 1946 to put away 'For Sentimental Reasons' and 'It's a Pity to Say Goodnight'.

'It's Only a Paper Moon' Ella Fitzgerald w the Delta Rhythm Boys

Recorded 27 March 1945 in NYC Matrix 72798 Decca 23425

Trumpet: Johnny McGhee

Piano: Bill Doggett Guitar: Bernie Mackay

Bass: Bob Haggart Drums: Johnny Blowers

Delta Rhythm Boys:

Carl Jones / Traverse Crawford / Kelsey Pharr / Lee Gaines

Music: Harold Arlen 1933 Lyrics: Yip Harburg / Billy Rose

It was with Bob Haggart's Orchestra on 18 January 1946 that Ella sang her first duets with Louis Armstrong. These two famously paired up again on several occasions in the fifties.

'You Won't Be Satisfied' Ella Fitzgerald w Louis Armstrong

First-known duet between Ella and Louis

Recorded 18 Jan 1946 in NYC Matrix 73285-A Decca 23496

Bob Haggart Orchestra:

Trumpet: Louis Armstrong / Billy Butterfield

Clarinet / alto sax: Bill Stegmeyer Alto sax: George Koenig

Tenor sax: Jack Greenberg / Art Drellinger

Baritone sax: Milton Schatz

Piano: Joe Bushkin Guitar: Danny Perri

Bass: Trigger Alpert Drums: Cozy Cole

Composition: Freddy James / Larry Stock

'Oh Lady Be Good' Ella Fitzgerald

Recorded 19 March 1947 in NYC Matrix 73820-A Decca 23956

Bob Haggart Orchestra:

Trumpet: Andy Ferretti / Chris Griffin / Bob Peck

Trombone: Will Bradley / Jack Satterfield / Fred Ohms

Baritone sax: Ernie Caceres

Piano: Stan Freeman Guitar: Danny Perri

Bass: Bob Haggart Drums: Morey Feld

Composition: George & Ira Gershwin 1924

Another of Fitzgerald's partners was bebopper, Dizzy Gillespie. They first recorded together at Carnegie Hall on September 29, 1947, titles from which got issued much later on the album, 'It Happened One Night'. Gillespie and Fitzgerald would record in the fifties, the seventies and as late as circa 1989 in Los Angeles for an album produced by Quincy Jones, 'Back on the Block'. Below is Ella's first rendition of the song, 'How High the Moon', which she popularly sang so often that it may as well have been a theme song. 'How High the Moon' was written in 1940 by Morgan Lewis (music) and Nancy Hamilton (lyrics). It was first recorded that year by Helen Forrest backed by Benny Goodman & His Orchestra.

'How High the Moon' Ella Fitzgerald w Dizzy Gillespie

Ella's first recording of this title

Recorded 29 Sep 1947 at Carnegie Hall in NYC

See 'It Happened One Night' on Natural Organic 7000

Dizzy Gillespie and His Orchestra:

Trumpet: Dizzy Gillespie / Dave Burns / Elmon Wright / Matthew McKay / Ray Orr

Trombone: Taswell Baird / William Shepherd

Alto sax: John Brown / Howard Johnson

Tenor sax: James Moody / Joe Gayles

Baritone sax: Cecil Payne Vibes: Milt Jackson

Bass: Al McKibbon Drums: Joe Harris

Composition: Morgan Lewis / Nancy Hamilton 1940

In 1947 Fitzgerald married the great bassist, Ray Brown. Her first marriage in 1941 to dockworker, Benny Kornegay, had lasted only into 1942. She and Brown would divorce in 1953. In the meantime they first recorded together on December 20, 1947, in New York City including three takes of 'How High the Moon' following 'My Baby Likes to Bebop' and 'No Sense'. Ray and Ella attended numerous sessions together into 1958, again in the sixties, seventies and eighties.

'How High the Moon' Ella Fitzgerald w the Daydreamers

Recorded 20 Dec 1947 in NYC

1 of 3 takes issued on either Decca 24387 or 'The War Years (1941-1947)' on GRD 2-628

Trumpet: Leonard Graham Piano: John Lewis

Bass: Ray Brown Drums: Joe Harris

Composition: Morgan Lewis / Nancy Hamilton 1940

Another of the highlights of Fitzgerald's career were her frequent appearances with Norman Granz' Jazz at the Philharmonic (JATP). Her first such occasion may have been at Carnegie Hall on February 11, 1949, toward the issue of 'I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm' among other titles unreleased. Fitzgerald recorded with JATP on some twenty occasions to as late as October 17, 1983, in Tokyo, including 'Flying Home' among other titles.

'How High the Moon' Ella Fitzgerald w JATP (Jazz at the Philharmonic)

Recorded 11 Feb 1949 at Carnegie Hall in NYC See Lonehill Jazz LHJ10364 2009

Trumpet: Fats Navarro Trombone: Tommy Turk

Alto sax: Sonny Criss Tenor sax: Flip Phillips

Piano: Hank Jones

Bass: Ray Brown Drums: Shelly Manne

Composition: Morgan Lewis / Nancy Hamilton 1940

Fitzgerald dedicated Song Books to eight composers integral to the Great American Songbook. She recorded Volumes 1 and 2 of her Cole Porter Song Book, on 7 February and 27 March of 1956 with Buddy Bregman arranging. Come her first session with Count Basie on 25 June of 1956. These two masters would join one another again on several occasions in the sixties and seventies. It was also 1956 when Ella stored away Volumes 1 and 2 of her Rodgers & Hart Song Book on the 21st and 31st of August.

'Too Darn Hot' Ella Fitzgerald Cole Porter Song Book

Recorded 7 Feb 1956 in Los Angeles Matrix 20070-5 Verve MGV4001-2

Buddy Bregman Orchestra:

Trumpet: Pete Candoli / Harry "Sweets" Edison / Maynard Ferguson / Conrad Gozzo

Trombone: Milt Bernhart / Joe Howard / Lloyd Ulyate / George Roberts (bass)

Alto sax: Herb Geller / Bud Shank

Tenor sax: Bob Cooper / Ted Nash Baritone sax: Chuck Gentry

Piano: Paul Smith Guitar: Barney Kessel

Bass: Joe Mondragon Drums: Alvin Stoller Arrangement: Buddy Bregman

Composition: Cole Porter for the musical 'Kiss Me, Kate' 1948

'Night and Day' Ella Fitzgerald Cole Porter Song Book

Recorded 27 March 1956 in Los Angeles Matrix 20121-10 Verve MGV4001-2

Buddy Bregman Orchestra:

Trumpet: Pete Candoli / Harry "Sweets" Edison / Maynard Ferguson / Conrad Gozzo

Trombone: Joe Howard / Lloyd Ulyate / Milt Bernhart / George Roberts (bass)

Alto sax: Herb Geller / Bud Shank

Tenor sax: Bob Cooper / Ted Nash Baritone sax: Chuck Gentry

Piano: Paul Smith Guitar: Barney Kessel

Harp: Corky Hale Cello: Edgar Lustgarten / Robert La Marchina

Bass: Joe Mondragon Drums: Alvin Stoller Arrangement: Buddy Bregman

Composition: Cole Porter for the musical 'Gay Divorce' 1932

'April in Paris' Ella Fitzgerald w the Count Basie Octet

Recorded 25 June 1956 in NYC Matrix 2900-4 Clef 89172

Count Basie Octet:

Trumpet: Thad Jones / Joe Newman Trombone: Henry Coker

Tenor sax: Frank Wess Piano: Basie (out this title)

Guitar: Freddie Green Bass: Eddie Jones Drums: Sonny Payne

Arrangement: Ralph Burns (piano this title only)

Composition: Vernon Duke / Yip Harburg for the musical 'Walk a Little Faster' 1932

'The Lady Is a Tramp' Ella Fitzgerald Rodgers & Hart Song Book

Recorded 21 Aug 1956 in Los Angeles Matrix 20218-5 Verve MGV4002-2

Buddy Bregman Orchestra:

Trumpet: Pete Candoli / Maynard Ferguson / Conrad Gozzo / Ray Linn

Trombone: Milt Bernhart / Joe Howard / Lloyd Ulyate / George Roberts (bass)

Alto sax: Bud Shank / Maurice Stein

Tenor sax: Bob Cooper / Ted Nash Baritone sax: Chuck Gentry

Piano: Paul Smith Guitar: Barney Kessel

Bass: Joe Mondragon Drums: Alvin Stoller Arrangement: Buddy Bregman

Composition: Rodgers & Hart for the musical 'Babes in Arms' 1937

'Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered' Ella Fitzgerald Rodgers & Hart Song Book

Recorded 29 Aug 1956 in Los Angeles Matrix 20235-3 Verve MGV4002-2

Paul Smith Trio:

Piano: Paul Smith Guitar: Barney Kessel

Bass: Joe Mondragon Drums: Alvin Stoller

Composition: Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart 1940

'Isn't It Romantic?' Ella Fitzgerald Rodgers & Hart Song Book

Recorded 31 Aug 1956 in Los Angeles Matrix 20250-1 Verve MGV4002-2

Buddy Bregman Orchestra:

Flute: Ted Nash English horn / oboe: Bob Cooper Flugelhorn: Vince DeRosa

Clarinet: Abe Most / Chuck Gentry (bass)

Piano / celeste: Paul Smith Guitar: Barney Kessel

Harp: Corky Hale Cello: Edgar Lustgarten / Robert La Marchina

Bass: Joe Mondragon Drums: Alvin Stoller

Percussion: Milt Holland Arrangement: Buddy Bregman

Composition: Rodgers & Hart 1937

It had been 1950 when Ella devoted a suite of titles to compositions by Duke Ellington at the Birdland nightclub. Those were recorded along with later performances at the Birdland toward release in 2008 on 'The Enchanting Ella Fitzgerald'. Ella's Song Book devoted to Ellington went down on 4 September of 1956. She later performed with Ellington's orchestra in June of 1957, 1959 and continuously in the sixties including European tours. Tom Lord traces Ella with Ellington to as late as a concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on 1 July 1967.

'Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me' Ella Fitzgerald Duke Ellington Song Book

Recorded 4 Sep 1956 in Los Angeles Matrix 20256-4 Verve MGV4008-2

Tenor sax: Paul Webster Piano: Paul Smith Guitar: Barney Kessel

Violin: Stuff Smith Cello: Edgar Lustgarten / Robert La Marchina

Bass: Joe Mondragon Drums: Alvin Stoller

Composition: Duke Ellington / Bob Russell 1940

Volumes 1 and 2 of Ella's Song Book dedicated to Irving Berlin were put away on 13 March and 16 August of 1958. She put up Volumes 1 and 2 of her Song Book devoted to George & Ira Gershwin on 7-9 January 1959. Volumes 1 and 2 of her Harold Arlen Song Book followed on 1 and 2 of August 1960, and 14-16 January 1962. Ella's Song Book featuring Jerome Kern saw recording on 5-7 January 1963. Her Song Book for Johnny Mercer followed on 19-22 October of 1964.

'Let's Face the Music and Dance' Ella Fitzgerald Irving Berlin Song Book

Recorded 16 Aug 1958 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles Verve B0035171-01

Paul Weston & His Orchestra

Composition: Irving Berlin for the film 'Follow the Fleet' 1936

'A Foggy Day' Ella Fitzgerald Gershwin Song Book

Recorded Jan 1959 in Los Angeles Matrix: 22622-3 Verve MGV4026

Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra

Composition: Gershwin Brothers for the film 'A Damsel in Distress' 1937

'Mack the Knife' Ella Fitzgerald

Recorded 13 Feb 1960 in Berlin Matrix: 26614 From the album 'Ella in Berlin'

Piano: Paul Smith Guitar Jim Hall

Bass: Wilfred Middlebrooks Drums: Gus Johnson

Composition:

Kurt Weill / Marc Blitzstein / Bertolt Brecht for 'The Threepenny Opera' 1928

'How High the Moon' Ella Fitzgerald

Recorded 13 Feb 1960 in Berlin Matrix: 26615 From the album 'Ella in Berlin'

Piano: Paul Smith Guitar Jim Hall

Bass: Wilfred Middlebrooks Drums: Gus Johnson

Composition: Morgan Lewis / Nancy Hamilton 1940

'Misty' Ella Fitzgerald w Paul Smith (piano)

Recorded 14 April 1960 in Hollywood Matrix: 26592-6 Verve MGV4043

From the album 'Songs from the Soundtrack of 'Let No Man Write My Epitaph'

Music: Errol Garner Lyrics: Johnny Burke 1954

'Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive' Ella Fitzgerald Harold Arlen Song Book

Recorded 1 Aug 1960 in Hollywood Matrix: 26734-5 Verve MGV4046-2

Billy May Orchestra:

Trumpet: Don Fagerquist Trombone: Milt Bernhart / Dick Nash

Alto sax: Ted Nash / Benny Carter Tenor sax: Plas Johnson

Piano: Paul Smith Vibes: Larry Bunker Guitar: John Collins or Al Hendrickson

Bass: Joe Mondragon Drums: Alvin Stoller Arrangement: Billy May

Composition: Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer 1944

'Let's Take a Walk Around the Block' Ella Fitzgerald Harold Arlen Song Book

Recorded 2 Aug 1960 in Hollywood Matrix: 26740-alt Verve 589108-2

Billy May Orchestra:

Trumpet: Don Fagerquist Trombone: Milt Bernhart / Dick Nash

Alto sax: Ted Nash / Benny Carter Tenor sax: Plas Johnson

Piano: Paul Smith Vibes: Larry Bunker Guitar: John Collins or Al Hendrickson

Bass: Joe Mondragon Drums: Alvin Stoller Arrangement: Billy May

Composition: Harold Arlen / Ira Gershwin / E.Y. Harburg

'A Fine Romance' Ella Fitzgerald Jerome Kern Song Book

Recorded 5 Jan 1963 in Los Angeles Matrix: 63VK205 Verve V-4060

Nelson Riddle Orchestra Arrangement: Nelson Riddle

Composition: Jerome Kern / Dorothy Fields 1936

'All the Things You Are' Ella Fitzgerald Jerome Kern Song Book

Recorded 7 Jan 1963 in Los Angeles Matrix: 63VK215 Verve V-4060

Nelson Riddle Orchestra Arrangement: Nelson Riddle

Composition:

Jerome Kern / Oscar Hammerstein II for the musical 'Very Warm for May' 1939

'Shiny Stockings' Ella Fitzgerald

Taped 22 Jan 1964 at the Hotel Okura in Tokyo, Japan

Music: Frank Foster Lyrics: Ella Fitzgerald 1957

'Too Marvelous For Words' Ella Fitzgerald Johnny Mercer Song Book

Recorded 19 Oct 1964 in Los Angeles Matrix: 64VK530 Verve V/V6-4067

Nelson Riddle Orchestra:

Clarinet: Buddy DeFranco Alto sax: Willie Smith

Piano: Paul Smith Vibes: Frank Flynn Guitar: Barney Kessel

Bass: Joe Comfort Drums: Irv Cottler

Composition: Richard A. Whiting / Johnny Mercer 1937

'It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)' Ella Fitzgerald

Television w Duke Ellington (piano)

'The Ed Sullivan Show' of 7 March 1965

Music: Duke Ellington Lyrics: Irving Mills 1931

'Summertime' Ella Fitzgerald Television w the Tee Carson Trio

Sometime 1968 in Berlin

Piano: Tee Carson Bass: Keter Betts Drums: Joe Harris

Music: George Gershwin

Lyrics: DuBose Heyward / Ira Gershwin for the opera 'Porgy and Bess' 1935

In 1973 Fitzgerald and guitarist, Joe Pass, issued the first of four albums together, 'Take Love Easy', which went down in Los Angeles on 28 August 1973. Tom Lord traces Ella's last of numerous renditions of 'How High the Moon' to a concert at Carnegie Hall on 24 June 1978 with Tommy Flanagan (piano), Keter Betts (bass) and Jimmie Smith (drums). See Wolfgang's Vault (audio). Ella and Flanagan had recorded 'How High the Moon' a few times before in 1971, 1974 and 1975.

'Take Love Easy' Ella Fitzgerald w Joe Pass (guitar)

28 Aug 1973 in Los Angeles From the album 'Take Love Easy' on Pablo 2310-702

Composition: Duke Ellington / John La Touche

It was 1980 and 1981 when Fitzgerald added an ninth Song Book to her previous eight dedicated to various composers. This was for Brazilian musician, Antônio Carlos Jobim, and released on 'Ella Abraça Jobim' ('Ella Embraces Jobim') by Pablo Records.

'Ella Abraca Jobim' Ella Fitzgerald Aka the Antonio Carlos Jobim Song Book

Recorded 17-19 Sep 1980 / 18-20 March 1981 Pablo 2630-201

Erich Bulling Orchestra:

Trumpet: Clark Terry Tenor sax: Zoot Sims Harmonica: Toots Thielemans

Keyboards: Henry Trotter / Mike Lang / Clarence McDonald

Guitar:

Oscar Castro-Neves / Paul Jackson Jr. / Mitch Holder / Roland Bautista / Joe Pass (electric)

Bass: Abraham Laboriel Drums: Alex Acuna

Percussion: Paulinho da Costa Arrangement: Erich Bulling

Fitzgerald recorded her last album, 'All That Jazz', in 1989. Her albums and song books are indexed by popularity at TsorT. She gave her last performance in 1991 at Carnegie Hall. Her last recording to issue was 'The Setting Sun' in Los Angeles in 1992.

'All That Jazz' Ella Fitzgerald Final album

Recorded 15, 16, 20, 22 March 1989 in Hollywood Issued on Pablo

Trumpet: Harry "Sweets" Edison / Clark Terry Trombone: Al Grey

Alto sax: Benny Carter Piano: Mike Wofford

Bass: Ray Brown Drums: Bobby Durham

'The Setting Sun' Ella Fitzgerald

Recorded Jan 1992 for the Japanese film 'Rakuyô' directed Rou Tomono

See Victor VICP-8084

Billy May Orchestra Arrangement: Billy May

Composition: Maurice Jarre / Sammy Cahn

Due to diabetes Fitzgerald lost both legs at the knee in 1993. This beautiful woman died in her wheelchair on 15 June 1996 in Beverly Hills, her last words reportedly, "I'm ready to go now" [obit]. Among the charities Fitzgerald supported were the American Heart Association, the City of Hope Medical Center and the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation established in 1993. Socially, Fitzgerald had tended to be shy and withdrawn. But when it came to belting out scat: "I don't want to say the wrong thing, which I always do, but I think I do better when I sing."

Sources & References for Ella Fitzgerald:

Phillip D. Atteberry (The Mississippi Rag / 1996)

Matt Collar (All Music)

Ella Fitzgerald

Last.fm

Barbara Stratyner (alt)

VF Music (notes)

Wikipedia

Hannnah Wong

Audio of Fitzgerald: Internet Archive YouTube

Billboard Popularity Charts:

Ella Fitzgerald