Ella Fitzgerald - All the Things You Are

Smooth Oscar Hammerstein & Jerome Kern number (in stereo). Arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle.

Last year read the autobiography of New Zealand/Australian promoter Harry M. Miller. In 1964 he brought Ella and her band out for a tour of NZ and Australia. The following excerpt provides a small but unique insight into Ella:

Another of the first big acts I toured to New Zealand through Joe Glaser was the wonderful wonderful Ella Fitzgerald - so talented and devoid of any diva-like behavior. If only some of her modern-day equivalents could take a leaf out of her book. Aside from her voice, which managed to override less than exemplary venue conditions in New Zealand, I remember Ellas great and warm sense of humour. The first time I met her was in Wellington-her plane was late and she had to perform that night. We were running out of time to get her onstage. As anyone could imagine and appreciate, this young promoter was beside himself, so much so I had all but destroyed a bunch of gladioli I planned to present to her on arrival. But, nervously, I nonetheless handed her the bunch of flowers when she touched down-what was left of them anyway.
'I think youre going to need some more flowers', she said, laughing. It put me instantly at ease-well almost.
The funny thing about Ella and her band was that they would steal food from each others plates or from unsuspecting schmoes like me. If I was explaining something to Ella, outlining her schedule for the day, for example, she'd listen intently, making sure our eyes were locked, while taking a piece of cake from my plate. It was a running joke for the entire tour.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ella
• Fitzgerald
• Love
• Songs
• Verve
• 1963
• Oscar
• Hammerstein
• Jerome
• Kern
• Jazz
• Smooth

[ItsKiloh]

I was definitely born in the wrong era. What has happened to music nowadays? Lady Gaga could learn a lesson or two from this wonderful woman!

[Makenshi14]

;-; I see your Rihanna, world, and I raise you one Ella Fitzgerald. A woman who had so much talent and didn't have to strip in a video and debase herself to prove it. ;-;

[PureToneAmps]

the previous decades where simpler and more beautifull in evrything. Check the films, check the movies, etc.

[11GaugeStrings]

@ItsKiloh I agree that modern music is in a lot of trouble but have you heard Gaga singing before she made it big? I'd say she was pretty good back then, especially for an amateur, check it out. youtube.com/watch?v=NM51qOpwcI­M

[cuirmichael]

I was just a schoolboy when Ella came to England to sing at the Brighton Dome. A feast of Cole Porter and Gershwin and, just to gild the lily, the Oscar Peterson Trio backing her! I'm still counting my luck today...

[sallvador]

@ItsKiloh Lady Crapga cant learn anything....even, her voice IS AWFULL!!

[MegaDarkChris]

@ItsKiloh Again?This is definitely getting boring I see the same status on every good song that's not from this era

[EdeniaHojane]

AMAZING voice!!! Definitely the QUEEN!

[Londonfogey]

Ella was truly the Queen. Nobody else came near. Sarah Vaughan or Mildred Bailey perhaps, but nobody else really.

[fnnygrndm]

@princesstootsweet3 Totally second this! Gaga's vocal talent is undoubtable. Her acoustics are beautiful - Paparazzi with just her an the piano is simply eargasmic.

[princesstootsweet3]

@ItsKiloh I think she has, she actually trained vocally at NYU. I'm pretty sure she's a fan of Ella, as she should be! I'm personally not a fan of Gaga's music, but I do appreciate her as a performer. You should hear her duet with tony bennett! it's great :)

[harmonyperf]

thanks for the biography !