Ella Fitzgerald, also known as the “First Lady of Song,” “Queen of Jazz,” and “Lady Ella,” was a jazz vocalist with a vocal range spanning three octaves (D♭3 to D♭6).
In 1997, Newport News, Virginia, created a music festival with Christopher Newport University to honor Ella Fitzgerald in her birth city.
Bridgewater’s album, Dear Ella, featured many musicians that were closely associated with Fitzgerald during her career, including pianist Lou Levy, trumpeter Benny Powell, and Fitzgerald’s second husband, double bassist Ray Brown.
Austin’s album, For Ella, featured 11 songs most immediately associated with Fitzgerald, as well as a twelfth song, “Hearing Ella Sing,” which was Austin’s tribute to Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald has been referred to in various songs, such as the 1987 song, “Ella, elle l’a,” by French singer France Gall; the 1976 Stevie Wonder hit, “Sir Duke,” from his album Songs in the Key of Life; and the song “I Love Being Here With You,” written by Peggy Lee and Bill Schluger.
