Ella Fitzgerald sang the blues and she sang them good. Ella and her fellas were on the way up! It seemed like nothing could stop her, until the biggest club in town refused to let her play… and all because of her colour. But when all hope seemed lost, little did Ella imagine that a Hollywood star would step in to help. This is the incredible true story of how a remarkable friendship between Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe was born – and how they worked together to overcome prejudice and adversity. An inspiring story, strikingly illustrated, about the unlikely friendship between two celebrated female icons of America’s golden age.

Follows the beloved American jazz singer's rise to fame, describing the difficult historical and cultural factors that she overcame.

Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2017 Washington Post Best Book of 2017 Amazon Editors' Top 100 Pick of the Year Amazon Best Humor and Entertainment Pick of the Year Booklist Top Ten Arts Book Queen of Bebop brilliantly chronicles the life of jazz singer Sarah Vaughan, one of the most influential and innovative musicians of the twentieth century and a pioneer of women’s and civil rights Sarah Vaughan, a pivotal figure in the formation of bebop, influenced a broad array of singers who followed in her wake, yet the breadth and depth of her impact—not just as an artist, but also as an African-American woman—remain overlooked. Drawing from a wealth of sources as well as on exclusive interviews with Vaughan’s friends and former colleagues, Queen of Bebop unravels the many myths and misunderstandings that have surrounded Vaughan while offering insights into this notoriously private woman, her creative process, and, ultimately, her genius. Hayes deftly traces the influence that Vaughan’s singing had on the perception and appreciation of vocalists—not to mention women—in jazz. She reveals how, in the late 1940s and early 1950s, Vaughan helped desegregate American airwaves, opening doors for future African-American artists seeking mainstream success, while also setting the stage for the civil rights activism of the 1960s and 1970s. She follows Vaughan from her hometown of Newark, New Jersey, and her first performances at the Apollo, to the Waldorf Astoria and on to the world stage, breathing life into a thrilling time in American music nearly lost to us today. Equal parts biography, criticism, and good old-fashioned American success story, Queen of Bebop is the definitive biography of a hugely influential artist. This absorbing and sensitive treatment of a singular personality updates and corrects the historical record on Vaughan and elevates her status as a jazz great.

Stuart Nicholson's biography of Ella Fitzgerald is considered a classic in jazz literature. Drawing on original documents, interviews, and new information, Nicholson draws a complete picture of Fitzgerald's professional and personal life. Fitzgerald rose from being a pop singer with chart-novelty hits in the late '30s to become a bandleader and then one of the greatest interpreters of American popular song. Along with Billie Holiday, she virtually defined the female voice in jazz, and countless others followed in her wake and acknowledged her enormous influence. Also includes two 8-page inse.

(Vocal Piano). Arguably the best female jazz singer ever, no one could out-swing or out-scat "The First Lady of Song." This fine book features authentic transcriptions in the original keys of 25 Fitzgerald classics in voice with piano accompaniment format: A-tisket, A-tasket * But Not for Me * Easy to Love * Embraceable You * The Lady Is a Tramp * Misty * Oh, Lady Be Good! * Satin Doll * Stompin' at the Savoy * Take the "A" Train * and more. Includes a biography and discography. A must for every jazz singer's library!

Baby and his family make some jazzy music.

A young girl imagines her own future as she puts on costumes and pretends to be great women from history, including Amelia Earhart, Lucille Ball, and Eleanor Roosevelt.

Ella Fitzgerald sang the blues and she sang them good. Ella and her fellas were on the way up! It seemed like nothing could stop her, until the biggest club in town refused to let her play... and all because of her colour. But when all hope seemed lost, little did Ella imagine that a Hollywood star would step in to help. This is the incredible true story of how a remarkable friendship between Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe was born - and how they worked together to overcome prejudice and adversity. An inspiring story, strikingly illustrated, about the unlikely friendship between two celebrated female icons of America's golden age.

Meet Ella Fitzgerald, one of the most influential jazz singers of all time! Part of the beloved Little People, BIG DREAMS series, this inspiring and informative little biography follows the inspirational life of the First Lady of Song, from her early singing days on the streets of Harlem to her success as a jazz legend, with the message: "It's not where you come from, but where you're going that counts." Ella Fitzgerald grew up near Harlem, in New York, where she was surrounded by music and dance. After winning first prize in a talent competition at the Apollo Theater, she went on to tour the world with her pioneering voice. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the singer's life. Little People, BIG DREAMS is a best-selling series of books and educational games that explore the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream. This empowering series offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardcover versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. Boxed gift sets allow you to collect a selection of the books by theme. Paper dolls, learning cards, matching games, and other fun learning tools provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children. Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS!

Jazz icon Ella Fitzgerald visited Australia four times in her long career that spanned six decades. This work presents a history of Ella Fitzgerald's Australian tours, and analyses how her concert appearances were received and reviewed in Australian and international media. She first toured in July 1954 as part of Lee Gordon's inaugural 'The Big Show'.Her second tour in December 1960 included Verve stable mate Mel Tormé, who was her supporting act. This tour was arranged by Melbourne night club owner Jim Noall and extended to the capital cities of the eastern seaboard and Adelaide. After completing her Australian commitments in early December 1960, Fitzgerald flew to New Zealand for her first tour there – this leg of the tour was promoted by Harry M. Miller. Her next visit came in November 1970, according to an article in The TV Times, but very little has been discovered about this tour. Her final visit to Australia came in November - December 1978 when she performed in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide, and in Perth for the first and only time in her career. In 1978 all the epithets used in the Australian print media to refer to Ella acclaimed her musicianship – gone was the earlier fixation on her colour and weight. Now she was 'Jazz Queen', 'Ella the great', 'First lady of song', 'world's greatest popular/jazz singer', 'grand lady of jazz', 'majestic', and 'singing legend'. Ella Fitzgerald's 1978 Australian tour was a no-holds-barred celebration of her music and of her life. Australian audiences adulated Ella Fitzgerald. In the major biographies of Ella Fitzgerald, Australia does not feature prominently – in fact it barely rates a mention. The 1954 tour was overshadowed by the racist event that occurred in Honolulu, Hawaii, en route to Australia from California that saw her 'bumped' from her first class airline seat. The 1960 Australian tour received scant attention in Fitzgerald biographies, and only one mentioned it in the context of her appearance at the inaugural gala for president-elect John F. Kennedy. The 1970 and 1978 visits do not receive any mention in leading biographies. The work contains rare photographs, many of which have never been published before.