Ella Jane Fitzgerald was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, intonation, and a "horn-like" improvisational ability, particularly in her scat singing. After a tumultuous adolescence, Fitzgerald found stability in musical success with the Chick Webb Orchestra, performing across the country but most often associated with the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. Her rendition of the nursery rhyme "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" helped boost both her and Webb to national fame. After taking over the band when Webb died, Fitzgerald left it behind in 1942 to start her solo career.
The Award winning Texas Gypsies compose and perform original and classic music influenced by the Vintage Jazzy Swingin cool hep cat sounds of the 20's-30's, along with a taste of it's sister sound, Western Swing, and a mix of Gypsy Jazz magic sprinkled over the top! The band mixes passionate violin, heartfelt vocals, a blazing horn section, rocking swingin guitars, slappin upright bass, virtuoso clarinet, and retro style drumming to harmoniously create their own unique, fun and artistic sound! This new CD's has many new and fresh sounding originals such as the Jump Blues/Rockabilly influence "Retro Deco Baby", the Vintage but almost pop like "Lights Up The Sun" and the Western style tribute to Bob Wills and Django Reinhardt track "DjangoBob"…
During the late '50s, Ella Fitzgerald continued her Song Book records with Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book, releasing a series of albums featuring 59 songs written by George and Ira Gershwin. Those songs, plus alternate takes, were combined on a four-disc box set, Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book, in 1998. These performances are easily among Fitzgerald's very best, and for any serious fan, this is the ideal place to acquire the recordings, since the sound and presentation are equally classy and impressive.