Vickie Smith's Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald

by Vickie Smith, Jazz Vocalist

No one sang with more enthusiasm and spirit of fun than Ella Fitzgerald. No one got down to the musical magic of a song and lovingly sang each note, each word, more than this much missed First Lady of Song- also called the First Lady of Swing, The Grand Duchess of Jazz, the greatest jazz diva.

At the age of 19, Ella won the Down Beat magazine poll as the Best Female Vocalist of the year, two years after her first recording "Love and Kisses". How exciting and gratifying that must have been for the young girl who, at the age of 16, went on stage to dance in a talent contest in Harlem and became so nervous that, instead of dancing, she decided to sing - and won first prize and the fateful attention of Chick Webb. Chick and his wife became the orphaned Ella's legal guardians and she became the girl singer of the Chick Webb Orchestra. It wasn't long before she grabbed the attention and adoration of the music world - as a vocalist, musician, composer and arranger - always expanding her musical horizons.

Throughout her musical lifetime, Ella went from singing nursery rhymes to mastering scat, and making songs of the Great American Songbook memorable with her effortless intonation, range, phrasing, ownership of each note.

"I never knew how good our songs were until I heard Ella Fitzgerald sing them" ... Ira Gershwin

"A singer has to work doubly hard to emit those random notes in scat singing with perfect intonation. Well, I should say all singers except Ella Fitzgerald. Her notes float out in perfect pitch, effortless and, most important of all, swinging." ... Mel Torme

"She was the lady who taught us all how to sing,"...
Tony Bennett

"It was like the greatest thing that I'd ever heard. There was nothing like it for someone like myself, who loved to sing, to listen to that music, played and sung with such joie de vivre, with such abandon. It was someone who had complete control over what they were doing, and they could do it upside down, backwards, forwards, round, down, any way. It's mind-boggling to me."
- Johnny Mathis, on first hearing Fitzgerald sing live

"The First Lady of American Music formed my tastes and shaped my experiences and influenced my work" ...Quincy Jones

Many websites and pages have been dedicated to this very special lady. Her music achievements and legacy are well documented. It was her spirit and love of music that inspired me to sing.

"Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do - where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong." ... Ella Fitzgerald

In tribute to this amazing lady, I developed my popular show "Ella! The Song is You" - dedicated to Ella's early recording years - the foundation of her career, the music style and talent that brought Ella to the attention of the world and matured along with her. These were often referred to as her Decca Years, filled with upbeat songs with that special Ella touch of fun and ease - songs such as "Sing Me A Swing Song (And Let Me Dance)", "You'll Have To Swing It ('Mr. Paganini')", "Darktown Strutters' Ball", "The Dipsy Doodle", "A-Tisket, A-Tasket", "I'm Just A Jitterbug", "McPhearson Is Rehearsin' (To Swing)", "Undecided", "'Tain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It)", "Chew, Chew, Chew (Your Bubble Gum)", and "Betcha Nickel" - fun songs that brought smiles to her audiences - many of these have been incorporated into the show. This is the Ella that inspires me - the woman who sang with that youthful enthusiasm and love of learning throughout her lifetime. Other musicians and performers recognized and admired this quality. "Ella & Duke - Love You Madly" is my second show dedicated to the talents and personality of Ella Fitzgerald and her musical union with the great Duke Ellington through monumental concerts and recordings.

One of my greatest satisfactions from these tribute shows is being able to bring this music and enthusiasm to those who never got to see or hear it first hand. And they LOVE it!! This is my dedication - Ella Fitzgerald and her music will live on.

Thank you Ella!