Ella
Ella Fitzgerald was the most popular Jazz singer in the United States from the 50s until she gave her last performance at Carnegie hall in 1991. Having recorded over 200 albums by the 1990s, she was dubbed "The First Lady of Song." Being this popular of an artist did not come easy to a black woman who began her career in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement. Her influential voice had an impact on this country and even the world- she crossed the lines of tradition, becoming the most popular Jazz singer despite her skin color.
Norman Granz & Marilyn Monroe
When Ella was first starting out, her shows took her into the deep south. The south was where discrimination was the worst in the United States, and a black artist traveling and performing in those areas did not make for a welcoming community.
Her manager, Norman Granz, felt very strongly about civil rights, and wouldn't let Ella be treated unfairly. The musicians he worked with were all treated equally despite their skin color. Norman would not tolerate discrimination in hotels or concert halls, despite him traveling into the deep south with Ella. There was an occasion where Ella was in her dressing room with her band, and the police came in to arrest all of them. When brought down to the station, Ella recalled "when we got there, they had the nerve to ask for an autograph."
Her manager, Norman Granz, felt very strongly about civil rights, and wouldn't let Ella be treated unfairly. The musicians he worked with were all treated equally despite their skin color. Norman would not tolerate discrimination in hotels or concert halls, despite him traveling into the deep south with Ella. There was an occasion where Ella was in her dressing room with her band, and the police came in to arrest all of them. When brought down to the station, Ella recalled "when we got there, they had the nerve to ask for an autograph."
Norman was not the only one to fight for Ella to be treated equally in her music career. Marilyn Monroe had also stood up for Ella during her career, helping her to get opportunities she may never have gotten otherwise;
"I owe Marilyn Monroe a real debt," Ella later said. "It was because of her that I played the Mocambo, a very popular nightclub in the '50s. She personally called the owner of the Mocambo, and told him she wanted me booked immediately, and if he would do it, she would take a front table every night. She told him - and it was true, due to Marilyn's superstar status - that the press would go wild. The owner said yes, and Marilyn was there, front table, every night. The press went overboard. After that, I never had to play a small jazz club again. She was an unusual woman - a little ahead of her times. And she didn't know it."
Marilyn Monroe created waves for Ella, helping Ella to succeed in her career. Ella's success was a turning point for black artists, being a world famous artist even though she was colored was huge for the Civil Rights Movement, and Norman Granz and Marilyn Monroe helped to create this turing point by investing in Ella's career.