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ELLA: A Biography of the Legendary Ella Fitzgerald Kindle Edition

by Geoffrey Mark (Author), Mies Hora (Editor) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 63 ratings
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Ella Jane Fitzgerald, “First Lady of Song,” became an internationally celebrated cultural force who has been called the greatest female singer in history. ELLA chronicles the ultimate rags-to-riches embodiment of the American dream, whose personal life was one of the best-kept secrets in show business—until now.

This Centennial Birthday Edition is illustrated with dozens of photos of Ella, including artifacts from her life and internationally acclaimed career. Developed with material from the archives of her estate, ELLA reveals the unknown side of the famous vocalist. This tome not only covers her career spanning seven decades with many never-before seen photos, interviews, and anecdotes, but delivers for the first time the true, untold story of Ella—the woman.
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  1. Print length
    464 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    March 19, 2018
  5. File size
    1482 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Finally, Ella Fitzgerald has gotten the biography that she deserves. Both the vocal legend and the woman are brought vividly, insightfully and movingly to life. --James Gavin, Award-winning author of Deep in a Dream: The Long Night of Chet Baker and Stormy Weather: The Life of Lena Horne

This is the authoritative compendium that will remain the last word on Ella Fitzgerald! Nobody has ever captured the amazing life and exemplary career of the Premiere Chanteuse as well as Mr. Mark has in this book. --Randy West, Jazz radio host and legendary TV announcer

A thoroughly engrossing treasure; lengthy bio, discography and hundreds of amazing anecdotes about the Queen of Jazz. --Barbra Scott, Feathered Quill

About the Author

Author Geoffrey Mark, an Emmy Award winner and Grammy Award nominee, has been called a walking encyclopedia of show business history. He personally saw Ella 25 times in concert and was privileged to assist her during the later years, by providing playlists utilizing songs that fit her vocal range, in the order in which they should be performed. He also became a close friend to jazz great Joe Pass, Ella's preferred guitar accompanist.

A singer/stand-up comedian in nightclubs and cabarets, and an Off-Broadway veteran, Mark has hosted radio series, written comedy for several stand-up comedians, and writes and produces documentaries and reality shows for cable television. Mr. Mark has three best-selling books, including The Lucy Book, and is the producer of Nigel: Come Back to Me, a CD with a seventeen piece Big Band. He is regularly booked for lectures, nightclubs and corporate events.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07BKPKS7V
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ultimate Symbol (March 19, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 19, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1482 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 464 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 63 ratings

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
63 global ratings
One of the original "Glass Ceiling" Greats
5 Stars
One of the original "Glass Ceiling" Greats
ELLA: A Biography of the Legendary Ella FitzgeraldFascinating glimpse into the making of the Singer, and the music. Geoffrey Mark takes you on a ride of the history of Ella's life, hollywood and the jazz music world she dominated, with carefully researched details. Her ups and downs, her character and ability to break barriers and become the LEGEND she still is. If you get the chance to see Mr. Mark in person performing from the Ella songbook between easily flowing anecdotes from the book and Ella's life - GO! Geoffrey os a GREAT storyteller! Get the Deluxe version, like I did with 2 carefully chosen long playing CD's of her best works.
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Top reviews from the United States

SaxmanAlex
5.0 out of 5 stars Well researched chronicle of our "first lady of song"
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2018
Verified Purchase
I'm finishing up this fine biography on Ella's birthday, April 25. At one time, most biographies listed 1918 was her birth year, so this would have been her centennial, but research by jazz historians place the year as 1917. No matter now. It's wonderful that the "first lady of song" finally has a top quality well-researched biography with a detailed discography, videography and awards list in the appendices. Geoffrey Mark has marshalled many wonderful professional sources on the record and dozens more that were close to Ella but who not willing to go on the record, meaning that this is likely the closest we'll ever get to a personal portrait of the Ella that her closest associates knew. It's a wonderful treat that we also had a fine biography of Sarah Vaughan come out at the same time -- my two favorite jazz singers, a bonanza spring season for songbirds and their chroniclers.
7 people found this helpful
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Jeremy Wall
5.0 out of 5 stars This Ella bio and CD set is amazing and way overdue
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2018
Verified Purchase
This Ella bio and CD set is amazing and way overdue. I have always loved her work throughout my long career as a jazz pianist and composer, but I never knew that much about her as a person. This book really provides a deep understanding of who she was, where she came from, and how she scaled such heights of achievement, despite all the odds, in her own words and voluminous interviews with those that knew her, worked with her, and loved her. The author, Mr. Mark, obviously did his homework, touching on every aspect of her life as an icon, a devoted musician of the highest order, and a vulnerable, emotional artist. Highly entertaining, and a blast to read/listen to, this Deluxe Edition rocks! May Ella be with you.
2 people found this helpful
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Marilyn L Silver
5.0 out of 5 stars Delivered on timeGe
Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2023
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A Christmas gift
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Ray
4.0 out of 5 stars Through career description
Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2019
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If you're a fan I recommend this book; ignore my laments below.
-------
Not a lot of insight into personal development. But..
A thorough description of her career; but a really good tour of that.
The circumstances of her childhood are described. The author's problem was that Ella was a private person with everybody. She was one of the quintessential performers and apparently never looked back and never shared.
Well, everybody known.
If your interested in Ella's career I recommend the book. If you, like me, are also interested where she found the ability to render songs so that you felt she had endured all of the joys, sorrow (sometimes with humor), and communicate them; we are still left with our imaginations.
On reflection, one of my favorites is
+"I Wish I Were In Love Again" with
"The conversation, with the flying plates
I wish I were in love again
No more pain, no more strain
Now I'm sane, but I would rather be punched, drunk"
LOL
2 people found this helpful
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H. Duane Wadsworth
5.0 out of 5 stars Must reading for any lover of jazz!
Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2020
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The detail of the life of this amazing person brings into focus much about her genius. Don’t miss this one.
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Carol L. Samuels
5.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2020
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Very good but wanted to read more about her personal life.
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mark
5.0 out of 5 stars Alot or history
Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2019
Verified Purchase
Liked all the fotos and info history!!
2 people found this helpful
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Michael A. Morgan
4.0 out of 5 stars Nice book, but whatever happened to proofreading?
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2018
Verified Purchase
Ella Fitzgerald is my favorite singer. The book starts with a pictorial history of her life and most of the well-reproduced photos were new to me. The author was acquainted with Miss Fitzgerald and is very respectful of her importance and her legacy. Fitzgerald was a private person so there's not an abundance of juicy gossip. This book celebrates her triumph over a tough, tragic childhood and the development of her sublime art despite the odds against her. I hope this book will help to keep Ella's legacy alive for future fans and will become a treasured keepsake for those of us who love her already.

I took away one star because there were quite a few typos and a few fragments of sentences were missing. I still highly recommend this book.
7 people found this helpful
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