Ella Fitzgerald
1917-1996 · American (Newport News, Virginia/Los Angeles) · Jazz
Known for: The First Lady of Song - the purest vocal instrument in jazz history
Fitzgerald was discovered at an Apollo Theater amateur night at 17, after planning to dance but switching to singing. Her scat singing was unmatched, her intonation flawless, and her range extraordinary. She recorded over 200 albums and won 13 Grammys.
She was shy, self-effacing, and insecure about her appearance - a stark contrast to her dazzling vocal confidence.
Browse all 1,000 figures by category
Enable JavaScript to view the full "if they lived today" Q&A and personality profile.