Ella was born in Newport News, Virginia. As a child, she moved to Yonkers, a suburb of NYC with her mother and stepfather. Little is known about her childhood. Some say when her mother died, she ran away from her abusive stepfather and made money by singing and dancing on the streets and by telling prostitutes when police were coming. But, this is only a rumor.
In 1934, she entered a contest in the Appolo theater, in hopes of becoming a dancer. She walked on the stage in cast-off clothes and men's boots, wishing to gain the audiences audition. Ella saw the audience and froze. People backstage told her that as long as she was on stage, she could still do something. So, she sang. And, she won.
Later on, she entered yet another contest, and won that one too. In the audience was Barou Ali who helped manage Chick Webbs band. Chick already had a singer, but they would see if she was okay. She was great. Chick and Ella were partners in music. Together they made a number one album, Chick's only. Soon, Ella went solo.
She went on and became one of the most populat female jazz singers. Ella won fourteen Grammy Awards including a Lifetime Achievement award in 1967. She won the Esquire Gold and Silver Awards in 1946 and 1947. Ella held first place in the Down beat Critics' Poll eighteen years in a row and first in Playboy's poll for thirteen years. She got the U.S. National Medal in 1987. She is considerered the "First Lady of Song".
Ella wasn't always in good health. In her seventies she had eye problems. In her eighties, heart problems. In 1993, diabetes claimed her legs. In 1996, she died in her sleep. Her son donated belongings and information to the Smithsonian Museum in 1998, and now she will live on forever in jazz history.
