Ella Fitzgerald

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Rodney Lawrence Hurst, Sr. Stamp Collection Rodney Lawrence Hurst, Sr. Papers

1-10-2007

Black Heritage Stamp Series: Ella Fitzgerald

United States Postal Service. Stamp Division

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Recommended Citation Black Heritage Stamp Series: Ella Fitzgerald. 2007. Rodney Lawrence Hurst, Sr. Papers. University of North Florida. Thomas G. Carpenter Library. Special Collections and Archives. UNF Digital Commons. https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/hurst_stamps/30

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Issue Date Colors Ella Fitzgerald January 10, 2007 Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Yellow (PMS 115), As a child, Ella Fitzgerald made people laugh when she told them she was First Day City Blue (PMS 550) going to be famous. She who laughs last, of course, laughs best: Fitzgerald New York, NY became a supremely talented figure on the American music scene of the Image Area (w x h) Artist 0.84 X 1.42 in. 20th century. Paul Davis 31.336 x 36.068 mm New York, NY Fitzgerald was born on April 25, 1917, in Newport News, Virginia, and was ,, Format still very young when she moved with her mother to Yonkers, New York. In Designer Pane of 20 (1 design) Ethel Kessler 1932, after her mother died, Ella went to live with her aunt in Harlem. By Bethesda, MD Plate Numbers the time she was 16, she was on her own, dancing on the street for tips. "P" followed by six Intending to show off her dancing skill, she entered an amateur competition Art Director single digits Ethel Kessler at the Apollo Theater in November of 1934. At the last minute, she decided Marginal Markings to sing instead, and was pronounced the winner. Not long after, at the Typographer © 2006 USPS, plate Harlem Opera House, she won another talent competition. Her success as Ethel Kessler position diagram, an amateur brought Fitzgerald to the attention of band leader and drummer header"BLACK Modeler HERITAGE" "30th IN A Chick Webb, who hired her to sing with his orchestra. Joseph Sheeran SERIES," price, plate numbers, biographical From such humble beginnings, great careers can be made. Over the years, Manufacturing Proces text, barcodes, Fitzgerald won 13 Grammy Awards and many other honors, including the Offset/ Microprint proprietary notice, "USPS" USPS logo National Medal of Arts, presented to her in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan. She was one of five artists awarded Kennedy Center Honors in 1979. In Printer 1989, the Society of Singers created an award for lifetime achievement, Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. called it the "Ella," and made her its first recipient. (APU)

Engraver By the time of her death in 1996, Fitzgerald had long been known as "the N/A first lady of song."

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Ella Fitzgerald® licensed by CMG Worldwide, Indianapolis, IN.

Ella Fitzgerald

In 1938, with band leader Chick Webb and his orchestra, Fitzgerald had a number one hit record with "A-Tisket, A-Tasket," a novelty song she co-wrote with Van Alexander, based on a child's rope-skipping rhyme. In this early phase of her career, Fitzgerald showed her mastery of swing music. The song "Flying Home," recorded in the autumn of 1945, is widely considered a masterpiece of scat singing-the vocalizing of nonsense syllables, often as if the singer were an instrumental soloist. Ella's scat reflected ~ her growing interest in bebop, a jazz style that improvised around chords and harmony, as well as melody. Her recordings of songs like "Lady Be Good" and "How High the Moon" consolidated Fitzgerald's reputation as a jazz singer; the latter title became one of her signature tunes. An early highlight among Fitzgerald's several dozen albums was Ella Sings Gershwin, recorded in 1950. The later George and Ira ONE OF THE MOST distinctive and instantly Gershwin Songbaak is cited by many as one of recognizable singers of both jazz and popular Fitzgerald's most special collections; her Duke tunes, Ella Fitzgerald was widely known as Ellington Sangboak also has many admirers. "the first lady of song." Her extraordinary Her collaborations on record with Louis vocal range and flexibility, combined with her Armstrong, including Ella and Louis, were gift for pitch, rhythmic sense, and flawless among her most popular efforts. diction, made her a favorite of fans, song Ella Fitzgerald continued to perform until writers, and other singers. In a recording only a few years before her death, when career spanning decades, there were worsening health compelled her reluctant countless highlights. retirement. She died at her home in Beverly Hills, California, on June 15, 1996. Fans and colleagues alike mourned the passing of this beloved singer, of whom Ira Gershwin once remarked, "I never knew how good our songs were until I heard Ella Fitzgerald sing them."

background, top le~. and bottom right: Ella Fitzgerald Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution; bottom left: Yale Collection of American literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript library, used with permission of the Carl Van Vechten Trust; top right: Bob Parent/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images; Ella Fitzgerald® licensed by CMG Worldwide, Indianapolis, IN.

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Rodney Lawrence Hurst Sr. Papers P1 11 P1 11 ThomasPLATE CIIl G Carpenter Library POSITION~ Special Collections Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) (1917-1996) (1917-1996) (1917-1996) (1917-1996) -- was widely known as was widely known as was widely known as was widely known as was widely known as -- "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song." "1he first lady of song." iiiiii .. = Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal -- o -- range and flexibility, range and flexibility, range and flexibility, range and flexibility, range and flexibility, --o "' -- combined with her gift combined with her gift combined with her gift combined with her gift combined wi1h her gift -06 o...J --= for pitch, rhythmic sense, for pitch, rflythmic sense, for pitch, rflythmic sense, for pitch, rflythmic sense, for pi1ch, rflythmic sense, ="--"' 0- and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made her one of America's her one of America's her one of America's her one of America's her one of America's - - most distinctive singers most distinctive singers most distinctive singers most distinctive singers most distinctive singers -- of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes.

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) (1917-1996) (1917-1996) (1917-1996) (1917-1996) was widely known as was widely known as was widely known as was widely known as was widely known as "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song ." "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song." Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal range and flexibility, range and flexibility, range and flexibility, range and flexibility, range and flexibility, combined with her gift combined with her gift combined with her gift combined with her gift combined with her gift for pitch, rhythmic sense, for pitch, rflythmic sense, for pitch, rflythmic sense, for pitch, rhythmic sense, for pitch, rflythmic sense, and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made her one of America's her one of America's her one of America's her one of America's her one of America's most distinctive singers most distinctive singers most distinctive singers most distinctive singers most distinctive singers of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes.

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) (1917-1996) (1917-1996) (1917-1996) (1917-1996) was widely known as was widely known as was widely known as was widely known as was widely known as "the first lady of song ." "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song." Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal range and flexibility, range and flexibility, range and flexibility, range and flexibility, range and flexibility, combined with her gift combined with her gift combined with her gift combined with her gift combined with her gift for pitch, rhythmic sense, for pitch, rhythmic sense, for pitch, rhythmic sense, for pitch, rhythmic sense, for pitch, rflythmic sense, and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made her one of America's her one of America's her one of America's her one of America's her one of America's most distinctive singers most distinctive singers most distinctive singers most distinctive singers most distinctive singers of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunts.

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) (1917-1996) (1917-1996) (1917-1996) (1917-1996) was widely known as was widely known as was widely known as was widely known as was widely known as -- -- "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song." "1he firs1 lady of song." iiiiii -- .. = Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal oa, -- range and flexibility, range and flexibility, range and flexibility, range and flexibility, range and flexibility, --o combined with her gift combined with her gift combined with her gift combined with her gift combined with her gift ---0r- o...J --= = o for pitch, rflythmic sense, for pitch, rflythmic sense, for pitch, rflythmic sense, for pitch, rflythmic sense, for pitch, rhythmic sense, --= "'" 0- and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made !!!!!!!!!! -- her one of America's her one of America's her one of America's her one of America's her one of America's = - most distinctive singers most distinctive singers most distinctive singers most distinctive singers most distinctive singers - of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes. Rodney Lawrence Hurst Sr. Papers

Ella Fitzgerald licensed by CMG Worldwide, Indianapolis, IN . Thomas G Carpenteri1lJ UNITED Library ST/lTES Special Collections~ POST/lL SERVICE. ~ UNITED ST/JTES ~ POST/JL SERVICE.

FIRST DAY OF ISSUE CEREMONY January 10, 2007, 11 :00 a.m. FITZGERALD The Allen Room, Frederick P. Rose Hall COMMEMORATIVE STAMP Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center New York, NY

PRELUDE MUSICAL TRIBUTE To ELLA SPECIAL GUESTS JUILLIARD JAZZ ENSEMBLE JENNIFER SANON Vocalist VINNIE MALLOY The Juilliard School JONATHAN BATISTE Piano New York District Manager/Postmaster, PHILLIP KING Bass United States Postal Service MASTER OF CEREMONIES JOE SAYLOR Drums NANCY WILSON BARBARA A. MCKINZIE Song Stylist OFFICIAL STAMP DEDICATION International President, Alpha Kappa Alpha NATIONAL ANTHEM/LIFT EVERY DELORES KILLETTE Sorority, Inc. Vice President and Consumer Advocate, VOICE PAUL DAVIS United States Postal Service THE CHILDREN'S Arn SocIETY CHORUS Artist REMARKS Peter Frost, Director of Music SYLVIA H ARRIS INVOCATION PHOEBE JACOBS Member, Citizens' Stamp Advisory Executive Vice President, Louis Armstrong REV. DR. CALVIN 0. BUTTS, III Committee Abyssinian Baptist Church, New York, NY Educational Foundation JESSICA H ELSAND WELCOME RAY BROWN, JR. Member, Citizens' Stamp Advisory Son of Ella Fitzgerald KATHERINE E. BROWN Committee Executive Director, Jazz at Lincoln Center CLOSING Rodney Lawrence Hurst Sr. Papers MARUCHI SANTANA NANCY WILSON ThomasMember, G Citizens' Carpenter Stamp LibraryAdvisory SpecialCommittee Collections FITZGERALD was 16, she was on her own, dancing on the street for tips. In November 1934, Fitzgerald entered an amateur HE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE competition at the historic Thonors Ella Fitzgerald, Apollo Theater to show off jazz singer, and her dancing skills. At the Grammy Award winner with last minute, she decided to the 30th stamp in its popular sing instead and was named Black Heritage commemorative stamp the winner. Not long after that, at the series. Harlem Opera House, she won another ART DIRECTOR ETHEL KESSLER lauds talent competition. the stamp portrait of Fitzgerald by OVER THE YEARS, Fitzgerald won 13 illustrator Paul Davis of New York, Grammy Awards and many other for the way it captures the joy and honors, including the National Medal excitement of Fitzgerald's music. of Arts, presented to her in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan. She was one BORN APRIL 25, 1917, IN NEWPORT NEWS, VA, Fitzgerald was still very young of five artists awarded Kennedy Center Honors in 1979. In 1989, the Society of when she moved with her mother to Singers created an award for lifetime Yonkers, NY. From an early age, she achievement, called it the "Ella," and loved to sing and dance. Although made her its first recipient. charmed by her performances, people laughed when she told them she was MANY REMEMBER FITZGERALD as one of going to be famous. In 1932, after her America's most distinctive singers mother died, she went to live with of jazz and popular tunes and widely her aunt in Harlem. By the timeRodney she Lawrenceknown as "The Hurst First LadySr. Papersof Song." Photograph: Ella Fitzgerald Collection, ArchivesThomas Center, GNational Carpenter Museum of American Library History, Smithsonian Institution. Special Collections .,1

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