[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5959]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF ELLA FITZGERALD

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                  in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 25, 2017

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor ``The First 
Lady of Song'', Ella Fitzgerald on her 100th birthday.
  Born on April 25, 1917 in Newport News, Virginia, Ella Jane 
Fitzgerald went on to define Jazz music for more than half a century. 
Fitzgerald's career first began when she performed at an amateur night 
contest at the Apollo Theater in 1934. She was just 17 years old and 
received first place. After overcoming a tumultuous childhood, 
Fitzgerald recorded her first major hit, ``A-Tisket A-Tasket,'' in 1938 
just four short years after her appearance at the Apollo Theater.
  In 1958, during the inaugural Grammy Awards, Fitzgerald won best jazz 
performance and best female vocal performance. Remembered for her 
humble demeanor, effortless stage presence, and inventive voice, 
Fitzgerald recorded more than 200 albums in her lifetime and sold over 
40 million records. During her impressive and lengthy career, 
Fitzgerald worked with many other great jazz artists of the time 
including Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and Dizzy 
Gillespie.
  Ella Fitzgerald won 13 Grammy's during her lifetime, and was awarded 
the National Medal of Arts by President Ronald Reagan in 1987 and the 
Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George H.W. Bush in 1992.
  Mr. Speaker, although Ella Fitzgerald is no longer here with us, her 
music is still celebrated throughout the world, especially in her 
birthplace of Newport News, Virginia, and I hope that it continues to 
inspire well beyond her 100th Birthday.

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