The First Lady of Song and the Queen of Jazz, the chanteuse with the velvety voice. An exquisite artist who fought against adversity to make a name for herself that will be remembered for years to come.
Ella Fitzgerald was one of the most distinctive voices of a generation, silky smooth and jammed packed with emotion, each song takes you on a journey.
The documentary Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things delves into the life of Ella Fitzgerald from childhood, her discovery at the Apollo amateur night, her meteoric rise to stardom and her never ending tours.
Interviews with the likes of Norma Miller, Tony Bennett, Patti Austin, Smokey Robinson and Johnny Mathis capture the essence of Ella and Norma Miller recounts the terrible dance audition, Ella Fitzgerald terrified by nerves went on to sing instead. Completing at the amateur night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, Ella went on the discover her voice.
What is touching about the documentary are the moments where Ray Brown Jr., Ella’s adopted son, retells home life with Ella. He recalls how she was the most caring and loving mother, who only wanted the best for her son, even at time when it meant she toured the country to provide the means to give him everything in life that she went without as a young child.
Directed by Leslie Woodhead, Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things, explores the difficult childhood of Ella and how at one point in her early existence she was living on the street and singing for any form of meager support.
Following her surprise win at the Apollo Theater, Ella gained notoriety and joined Chick Webb and his famous orchestra performing at the historic venues like the Harlem Opera House and the Harlem Savoy Ballroom.
One fascinating tale explored in the documentary is the lobby by Marilyn Monroe of famed Hollywood nightclub Mocambo to hire Ella to appear for a week of performances. As legend has it, Monroe appeared every night throughout the duration of Ella’s performance ensuring the success of her initial performance, galvanizing her ongoing success in Hollywood.
A large part of the documentary also highlights the ongoing racism Ella Fitzgerald faced touring America but also when traveling globally with her band. But what is reassuring is learning that when touring with Jazz at the Philharmonic with Normal Granz, Granz was a large advocate for the Jazz musicians and known for his anti-racist position and for integrating his audiences in a time that it was not favorable.
The legacy of Ella Fitzgerald and her influence on the music industry is still talked about today with many modern-day artists.
Ella Fitzgerald is a talent that needs to be remembered for her remarkable talent as an artist, an individual who spoke out and fought for racial equality in a time when segregation was in full force.
Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things is currently available on Netflix and strongly recommended for anyone who is a fan of the unique vocal legacy of Ella Fitzgerald.
