Ella Fitzgerald: A Biography of the First Lady of Jazz

by Stuart Nicholson

Book Overview

The life of the very private and media-shy Ella Fitzgerald has long been shrouded in a mixture of half-truths and fiction. What emerges in Stuart Nicholson's groundbreaking biography is a remarkable story of a poor black girl's determination to realize the American Dream in the face of racial and sexual prejudice. She succeeded, and is now the definition of jazz singer to millions, one of the greatest of all jazz musicians. In this fullest account...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0306806428
• ISBN13: 9780306806421
• Release Date: August 1995
• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.2" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Research of original documents, photos, and interviews

The revised edition of this survey of jazz lady Ella Fitzgerald will appeal to any who haven't already gotten too many jazz biographies of Ella under their belts. Ella Fitzgerald defined the female voice in jazz, and Stuart Nicholson's biography was considered a classic in the genre. This updated edition includes further research of original documents, photos, and interviews to expand upon Ella's life.

Best of the Bios

This is the best of the Ella bios. Authoritative, well-written, and insightful with a helpful discography. Avoid the much inferior "First Lady of Song" by Fidelman. THIS is the bio to buy.

Enjoyable, enlightening, thoroughly researched.

I'd have given this book 4 1/2 stars given the option. The only reason I didn't give it 5 is that it gets somewhat dry towards the end, but I blame my attention span for some of that. It's full of fascinating stories, tidbits and opinions from musicians, producers, friends and agents who worked with Ella. You'll come away from the book with a new understanding of Ella the person and Ella the musician. You'll learn much about the times and the musicians who created the story of popular music and jazz in America. You'll also have a fascinating guide to her recorded music, the whys and the hows of it, the circumstances that made it wonderful or less than great. I recommend this book!