A swinging bio of young Ella Fitzgerald, who pushed through the
toughest of times to become one of America's most beloved jazz
singers.
**
**When Ella Fitzgerald danced the Lindy Hop on the streets of 1930s
Yonkers, passersby said good-bye to their loose change. But for a girl
who was orphaned and hungry, with raggedy clothes and often no place to
spend the night, small change was not enough. One amateur night at
Harlem's Apollo Theater, Ella made a discovery: the dancing beat in her
feet could travel up and out of her mouth in a powerful song -- and the
feeling of being listened to was like a salve to her heart. With lively
prose, Roxane Orgill follows the gutsy Ella from school-girl days to a
featured spot with Chick Webb's band and all the way to her number-one
radio hit A-Tisket, A-Tasket. Jazzy mixed-media art by illustrator Sean
Qualls brings the singer's indomitable spirit to life.
Back matter includes resources for further information, and an index.