Product Description

Today, Ella Fitzgerald defines "jazz singer," recognized as one of the greatest jazz performers in the world. Nicholson draws on fresh research and interviews with Ella's friends and colleagues to tell the remarkable story of how this poor, black girl realized her American Dream in the face of racial and sexual prejudice. 29 illustrations.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #128552 in Books
• Published on: 1995-08-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 368 pages

Amazon.com Review
Ella Fitzgerald, who died in 1996, came from a poverty-stricken background. She was abandoned by her father, possibly abused by her stepfather and lived on the streets as a teenager. As a club singer she had to contend with racism, sexism and advances from predatory men. But in the 1950s, just when Billie Holiday, from a similar background, was falling toward drug addiction and a sordid death, Fitzgerald escaped the seeming inevitability of that fate. Her songbook albums relaunched her career in a new direction, and she became a beloved figure in American jazz, known for her musical precision and luminous clarity. This biography offers an assessment of the emotional strength apparent in both her life and music.

From Publishers Weekly
For his exhaustive biography, Nicholson ( Jazz: The Modern Resurgence ) draws on written accounts of the legendary singer and on interviews with her childhood friends and musicians who have worked with her; he was unable to arrange to talk with Fitzgerald herself. The result is a thorough, dispassionate account of a career that began in 1935 when, at age 17, the singer first appeared in New York City's Apollo Theater and the Harlem Opera House. Nicholson shows how Fitzgerald was advanced by Milt Gabler at Decca and by promoter Norman Granz; he follows the grueling schedule to which she subjected herself and provides lucid analyses of her style and place in the history of jazz and 20th-century popular music. Although there are accounts here of her continuously unhappy love life, Fitzgerald's personality remains obscure, possibly a reflection of a performer to whom nothing other than singing seems to really matter. Discography by Phil Schaap. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Ella Fitzgerald's hit song "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" grabbed national attention in 1938, and over the next three decades she won much popular and critical acclaim. Born in poverty, she rose to perform at Carnegie Hall, becoming wealthy and well liked. Nicholson discusses Fitzgerald's musical influences, places her in the context of swing and bebop, and discusses her career highlights, including the Songbook albums. But he also bemoans the many silly songs she recorded to achieve wide sales and discusses her lack of depth compared with Billie Holiday. A 61-page discography by jazz historian Phil Schaap is said to include previously unknown recordings. Although this biography joins at least four others (some in German), it seems well researched and is recommended for general collections.
Paul Baker, Wisconson Ctr. for Education Research, Madison
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

An elusive look at an elusive life.
The book is loaded with facts about Ms. Fitzgerald's concert and recording careers, but gives almost nothing about her personal life.

Enjoyable, enlightening, thoroughly researched.
I'd have given this book 4 1/2 stars given the option. The only reason I didn't give it 5 is that it gets somewhat dry towards the end, but I blame my attention span for some of that. It's full of fascinating stories, tidbits and opinions from musicians, producers, friends and agents who worked with Ella. You'll come away from the book with a new understanding of Ella the person and Ella the musician. You'll learn much about the times and the musicians who created the story of popular music and jazz in America. You'll also have a fascinating guide to her recorded music, the whys and the hows of it, the circumstances that made it wonderful or less than great. I recommend this book!

Best of the Bios
This is the best of the Ella bios. Authoritative, well-written, and insightful with a helpful discography. Avoid the much inferior "First Lady of Song" by Fidelman. THIS is the bio to buy.