First Lady of Song: Ella

Ich kann einfach nicht widerstehen und beende diesen April wie ich ihn begonnen habe: Mit der Biographie eines Jazz-Musikers. Ich habe das Buch erst am Dienstag bekommen, und ich muss es einfach gleich lesen, auch wenn ich es in den nächsten Tagen immer durch Wien schleppen muss. Wenn jetzt noch eine Biographie meiner zweitliebsen Jazz-Sängerin erscheinen würde, wäre ich mehr als glücklich. Aber erst gibt es Ella - und dazu passend eines ihrer Songbooks zum Lesen und Hören.

 

Meine neue Lektüre:

Geoffrey MARK
ELLA
A Biography of the Legendary Ella Fitzgerald

Description: Ella Jane Fitzgerald, The First Lady of Song, became an internationally celebrated cultural force who has been called the greatest female singer in history. ELLA chronicles the ultimate rags-to-riches embodiment of the American dream, whose personal life was one of the best-kept secrets in show business until now.

 

This Centennial Birthday Edition includes complete Discography, Videography and Media Appearances, Top 10 Lists, Index, Notes, and silk bookmark. Illustrated with 280 photos of Ella, including artifacts from her life and internationally acclaimed career. Developed with material from the archives of her estate, ELLA reveals the unknown side of the famous vocalist. This tome not only covers her phenomenal career with many never-before seen photos, interviews, and anecdotes, but delivers for the first time the true, untold story of Ella - the woman.

 

In her lifetime, Ella sold over 40 million albums, wrote hit songs, devoted herself to philanthropy, and amassed countless awards and commendations, including 14 Grammys, honorary doctorates from Dartmouth, Princeton, Harvard, and Yale, the National Medal of Arts, France's Commander of Arts and Letters, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

 

Known in every part of the world as Queen of Jazz, First Lady of Song, Mama Jazz, and The Memorex Lady, Miss Fitzgerald's bittersweet life juxtaposes the tragedy of a homeless orphan who faced poverty, racial prejudice, sexual and physical abuse, with a talent and a burning ambition that led to an astonishing musical career spanning seven decades. She was an African American woman who fought racism and sexism in an industry completely dominated by white males. Despite her challenges, Ella Fitzgerald topped them all, enjoying a career and a musical legacy rivaling or surpassing those of Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Michael Jackson.