Ella Fitzgerald on the Frankie Laine show (part 1)

This rare footage is from a TV show taped on September 8th 1956. Ella isn't at her best, but hopefully this hard-to-find footage will be of interest to many of you. This first part includes Laine's gushing introduction + Ella's solo numbers (Beautiful Friendship and The Silent Treatment)from the show. Her duet with Frankie Laine will comprise part 2, which will be uploaded in a day or two. Enjoy, and apologies for the poor picture/sound.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ella
• Fitzgerald
• Frankie
• Laine
• Tv
• show
• Rare
• Beautiful
• Friendship
• Silent
• Treatment
• jazz
• swing
• big
• band

[newstart2009]

of course it is of interest! :D Thank you for posting.

[shaneleebrown]

No problem. Just a shame it's out of synch!

[aldoarmstrong]

Ella not at her best??? I couldn't see why... In these years, the 50's and early 60's, she was at the top of her vocal capabilities...

[kevnet100]

Not at her best...? For live television... If her vocals are actually live (and I believe that they are) and not dubbed then consider that her foundation garment is cinched tightly in one number and she is seated for another, both instances can constrain the diaphragm and inhibited breath control. Her technique may be limited by these conditions but Ellas vocal treatment is spot on!

Thank you for this video.

[arpeggio1358]

@larrydonguy I agree with everything you said. And yes, Ella was THE TOP in her field!

[larrydonguy]

Ella sounds fine to me despite the relatively primitive recording technology. Laine's "gushing" intro may not have simply been a matter of routine show biz flattery. Other singers did greatly admire her. Moreover, this was during the early years of the Civil Rights Movement and Laine, admirably I think, wanted his audience to know that a performer such as Ella was THE TOP in her field.

[nitwit02]

Frank & Ella together - great! Thanks.