Ella Fitzgerald Quotes (Images)

Ella Jane Fitzgerald was born in Newport News, Virginia, USA. She was an American jazz singer often referred to as the First Lady of Song, Queen of Jazz and Lady Ella. In 1958, she made history as the first African-American woman to win a Grammy Award. Due in no small part to her vocal quality, with lucid intonation and a broad range, the singer would go on to win 13 Grammys in total and sell more than 40 million albums. She also received the National Medal of Art, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Her multi-volume "songbooks" on Verve Records are among America's recording treasures. She also put out her first No. 1 hit, 1938's "A-Tisket, A-Tasket," which she co-wrote. Later that year Ella recorded her second hit, "I Found My Yellow Basket." The United States Postal Service honored the late singer with an Ella Fitzgerald commemorative stamp celebrating the 90th anniversary of her birth.