Ella Fitzgerald (1917­–1996) Today we remember the immortal First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgerald, born on this day in 1917. With her flawless pitch, expert timing, masterful phrasing, and pinpoint diction balancing an instrumentalist’s skill for improvisation, an intrinsic gift for lyrical interpretation, and a wellspring of soul, Fitzgerald possessed a truly perfect instrument for popular song. She made her public debut at age 17 during a 1934 Amateur Night at Harlem’s Apollo Theater that she ul