Jazz Legends: Ella Fitzgerald

The greatest jazz vocalist of the 20th century? You'd be hard pressed to go beyond Ella Fitzgerald. She was a singer who went beyond talent, carving out a sound that was hers and hers only.

Sure, maybe that's easy as a singer - after all, your voice is your instrument and all voices sound different. But in an age of legendary singers like Anita O'Day, Peggy Lee and Sarah Vaughan, Ella went above and beyond as a creative force, relentlessly pursuing her craft to perfection. Ella may not have been the bluesiest vocalist nor was she the most emotive or raw, but it's her technical facility, her clear diction, her improvisational prowess, and her perfect intonation that will no doubt be studied for many years to come.

From her early days as a big band singer and leader to her collaborations with the likes of Duke Ellington and Count Basie to her songbook series and tours around the world, we're remembering this giant of popular song in our Jazz Legends series.