HOME
MAKE A DONATION
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION
Learn about us and what we do
BIOGRAPHY
Learn about the First Lady of Song
CONTACT US
By mail or via email
DISCOGRAPHY
Look at and buy Ella's recordings
ELLA ON EXHIBIT
Museums that feature Ella
FEATURED GRANT
Spotlighting one of our partners
GO READ A BOOK!
Our book program for children
HOT NEWS
Foundation news and events
I REMEMBER ELLA
Personal stories about Ella
OUR PARTNERS
Links to our partner organizations
JUST FOR KIDS!
A page for our younger visitors
FEATURED RECORDING
Click Here
for this month's
FEATURED RECORDING |
Everywhere I go, when I meet new people and they find out what I do, they start telling me their very own Ella Fitzgerald stories. From the deli guy at the market who knew just how she liked her tuna salad (easy on the mayo) to the librarian at the local elementary school who saw her in concert forty years ago. We all love these stories, and if you have one you'd like to tell, please email it to us and we'll share it here with all of you who have been touched by Ella and her magical voice.
This story comes from Bea Wain, a big band singer who was a dear friend of Ella’s. Bea is (and Ella was) a staunch supporter of “The Society of Singers”, a non-profit organization that helps vocalists in need. Anyway, this little tidbit comes from Bea’s reminiscing in the Society of Singers newsletter. Special thanks to our wonderful friend, Joyce Garro, who was Ella’s Beverly Hills neighbor.
(To learn more about Bea Wain, try Wikipedia; they’ve got a great article. Joyce Garro is a very special friend to us here at the Foundation – she is one terrific singer, an ardent Cubs fan and a former Dean Martin “Golddigger”…now doesn’t that bring back fun memories?)
From Bea-
It was April 25, 1996 – Ella’s 79th birthday. Joyce Garro and I were at her home (on Whittier Drive in Beverly Hills), celebrating her special day. We were laughing, singing and eating birthday cake. Ella and I were reminiscing about how far back we have gone together. It all started in the latter part of 1937, when I was singing with the Larry Clinton Band and Ella was the vocalist with the Chick Webb Orchestra. In those days, the Big Bands played the college proms and the events were called “The Battle of the Bands”.
We recalled the night we played for the prom at the University of Pennsylvania. Each band was on an opposite side of the enormous gym and we alternated playing. Boy! When Larry and I finished our set, we raced across the floor to listen to the great Chick Webb and Ella.
View past featured stories >>
|
|
