Download - Black Heritage Stamp Series: Ella Fitzgerald
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Rodney Lawrence Hurst, Sr. Stamp Collection Rodney Lawrence Hurst, Sr. Papers
1-10-2007
Black Heritage Stamp Series: Ella Fitzgerald Black Heritage Stamp Series: Ella Fitzgerald
United States Postal Service. Stamp Division
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Recommended Citation Recommended Citation Black Heritage Stamp Series: Ella Fitzgerald. 2007. Rodney Lawrence Hurst, Sr. Papers. University of North Florida. Thomas G. Carpenter Library. Special Collections and Archives. UNF Digital Commons. https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/hurst_stamps/30
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AMERICAN COMMEMORATIVE CANCELLATIONS
Issue Date Colors January 10, 2007 Black, Cyan, Magenta,
Yellow, Yellow (PMS 115), First Day City Blue (PMS 550) New York, NY
Image Area (w x h) Artist 0.84 X 1.42 in. Paul Davis 31.336 x 36.068 mm New York, NY
Format Designer Pane of 20 (1 design) Ethel Kessler Bethesda, MD Plate Numbers
"P" followed by six Art Director single digits Ethel Kessler
Marginal Markings Typographer © 2006 USPS, plate Ethel Kessler position diagram,
header"BLACK Modeler HERITAGE" "30th IN A Joseph Sheeran SERIES," price, plate
numbers, biographical Manufacturing Proces text, barcodes, Offset/ Microprint proprietary notice, "USPS" USPS logo
Printer Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Engraver N/A
Ella Fitzgerald® licensed by CMG Worldwide, Indianapolis, IN.
© 2007 United States Postal Service (0701)
Ella Fitzgerald
As a child, Ella Fitzgerald made people laugh when she told them she was
going to be famous. She who laughs last, of course, laughs best: Fitzgerald
became a supremely talented figure on the American music scene of the
20th century.
Fitzgerald was born on April 25, 1917, in Newport News, Virginia, and was
still very young when she moved with her mother to Yonkers, New York. In
1932, after her mother died, Ella went to live with her aunt in Harlem. By
the time she was 16, she was on her own, dancing on the street for tips.
Intending to show off her dancing skill, she entered an amateur competition
at the Apollo Theater in November of 1934. At the last minute, she decided
to sing instead, and was pronounced the winner. Not long after, at the
Harlem Opera House, she won another talent competition. Her success as
an amateur brought Fitzgerald to the attention of band leader and drummer
Chick Webb, who hired her to sing with his orchestra.
From such humble beginnings, great careers can be made. Over the years,
Fitzgerald won 13 Grammy Awards and many other honors, including the
National Medal of Arts, presented to her in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan.
She was one of five artists awarded Kennedy Center Honors in 1979. In
1989, the Society of Singers created an award for lifetime achievement,
called it the "Ella," and made her its first recipient.
By the time of her death in 1996, Fitzgerald had long been known as "the
first lady of song."
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AMERICAN COMMEMORATIVE PANELS
Ella Fitzgerald
ONE OF THE MOST distinctive and instantly
recognizable singers of both jazz and popular
tunes, Ella Fitzgerald was widely known as
"the first lady of song." Her extraordinary
vocal range and flexibility, combined with her
gift for pitch, rhythmic sense, and flawless
diction, made her a favorite of fans, song
writers, and other singers. In a recording
career spanning decades, there were
countless highlights.
In 1938, with band leader Chick Webb and
his orchestra, Fitzgerald had a number one hit
record with "A-Tisket, A-Tasket," a novelty
song she co-wrote with Van Alexander, based
on a child's rope-skipping rhyme. In this early
phase of her career, Fitzgerald showed her
mastery of swing music.
The song "Flying Home," recorded in the
autumn of 1945, is widely considered a
masterpiece of scat singing-the vocalizing of
nonsense syllables, often as if the singer were
an instrumental soloist. Ella's scat reflected
her growing interest in bebop, a jazz style that
improvised around chords and harmony, as
well as melody. Her recordings of songs like
"Lady Be Good" and "How High the Moon"
consolidated Fitzgerald's reputation as a jazz
singer; the latter title became one of her
signature tunes.
An early highlight among Fitzgerald's
several dozen albums was Ella Sings Gershwin,
recorded in 1950. The later George and Ira
Gershwin Songbaak is cited by many as one of
Fitzgerald's most special collections; her Duke
Ellington Sangboak also has many admirers.
Her collaborations on record with Louis
Armstrong, including Ella and Louis, were
among her most popular efforts.
Ella Fitzgerald continued to perform until
only a few years before her death, when
worsening health compelled her reluctant
retirement. She died at her home in Beverly
Hills, California, on June 15, 1996. Fans and
colleagues alike mourned the passing of this
beloved singer, of whom Ira Gershwin once
remarked, "I never knew how good our songs
were until I heard Ella Fitzgerald sing them."
background, top le~. and bottom right: Ella Fitzgerald Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution; bottom left: Yale Collection of American literature, Beinecke Rare
Book and Manuscript library, used with permission of the Carl Van Vechten Trust; top right: Bob Parent/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images; Ella Fitzgerald® licensed by CMG Worldwide, Indianapolis, IN.
Stamps printed by Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU) / No. 782 in a series/ January 10, 2007 / Printed in U.S.A./© 2007 United States Postal Service
.::!!!J!!fl UNITEDST/J.TES IJ.iffi, POST/J.L SERVICE@
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© 2006 USPS
P1 11 '
P1 11
BlACK HERITAGE 30th IN A SERIES
PLATE CIIl POSITION~
P1 11
P1 11
.39 X 20
$7.80
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Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) (1917-1996) (1917-1996) (1917-1996) (1917-1996)
-- was widely known as was widely known as was widely known as was widely known as was widely known as --
iiiiii "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song." "1he first lady of song." Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal --.. = -0 "' -- range and flexibility, range and flexibility, range and flexibility, range and flexibility, range and flexibility, --o o-- - 6 ...J = combined with her gift combined with her gift combined with her gift combined with her gift combined wi1h her gift o-- for pitch, rhythmic sense, for pitch, rflythmic sense, for pitch, rflythmic sense, for pitch, rflythmic sense, for pi1ch, rflythmic sense, -- "' 0- =" and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made -- her one of America's her one of America's her one of America's her one of America's her one of America's most distinctive singers most distinctive singers most distinctive singers most distinctive singers most distinctive singers --
of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes.
Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) (1917-1996) (1917-1996) (1917-1996) (1917-1996)
was widely known as was widely known as was widely known as was widely known as was widely known as "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song." Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal
range and flexibility, range and flexibility, range and flexibility, range and flexibility, range and flexibility, combined with her gift combined with her gift combined with her gift combined with her gift combined with her gift
for pitch, rhythmic sense, for pitch, rflythmic sense, for pitch, rflythmic sense, for pitch, rhythmic sense, for pitch, rflythmic sense, and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made
her one of America's her one of America's her one of America's her one of America's her one of America's most distinctive singers most distinctive singers most distinctive singers most distinctive singers most distinctive singers
of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes.
Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) (1917-1996) (1917-1996) (1917-1996) (1917-1996)
was widely known as was widely known as was widely known as was widely known as was widely known as "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song." Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal
range and flexibility, range and flexibility, range and flexibility, range and flexibility, range and flexibility, combined with her gift combined with her gift combined with her gift combined with her gift combined with her gift
for pitch, rhythmic sense, for pitch, rhythmic sense, for pitch, rhythmic sense, for pitch, rhythmic sense, for pitch, rflythmic sense, and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made
her one of America's her one of America's her one of America's her one of America's her one of America's most distinctive singers most distinctive singers most distinctive singers most distinctive singers most distinctive singers
of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunts.
Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) (1917-1996) (1917-1996) (1917-1996) (1917-1996)
-- was widely known as was widely known as was widely known as was widely known as was widely known as --
iiiiii "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song." "the first lady of song." "1he firs1 lady of song." --.. = Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal Her extraordinary vocal -0 a, -- range and flexibility, range and flexibility, range and flexibility, range and flexibility, range and flexibility, --o o-- -- r-...J = combined with her gift combined with her gift combined with her gift combined with her gift combined with her gift = o o-- for pitch, rflythmic sense, for pitch, rflythmic sense, for pitch, rflythmic sense, for pitch, rflythmic sense, for pitch, rhythmic sense, -- "' 0- = " -- and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made and flawless diction, made !!!!!!!!!! - her one of America's her one of America's her one of America's her one of America's her one of America's -= most distinctive singers most distinctive singers most distinctive singers most distinctive singers most distinctive singers
of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes. of jazz and popular tunes.
Ella Fitzgerald licensed by CMG Worldwide, Indianapolis, IN. i1lJ UNITED ST/lTES ~ POST/lL SERVICE.
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~ UNITED ST/JTES ~ POST/JL SERVICE.
FITZGERALD COMMEMORATIVE STAMP
PRELUDE JUILLIARD JAZZ ENSEMBLE
The Juilliard School
MASTER OF CEREMONIES NANCY WILSON
Song Stylist
NATIONAL ANTHEM/LIFT EVERY VOICE THE CHILDREN'S Arn SocIETY CHORUS
Peter Frost, Director of Music
INVOCATION REV. DR. CALVIN 0. BUTTS, III Abyssinian Baptist Church, New York, NY
WELCOME KATHERINE E. BROWN
Executive Director, Jazz at Lincoln Center
MUSICAL TRIBUTE To ELLA JENNIFER SANON
JONATHAN BATISTE
PHILLIP KING
JOE SAYLOR
Vocalist Piano Bass Drums
OFFICIAL STAMP DEDICATION DELORES KILLETTE
Vice President and Consumer Advocate, United States Postal Service
REMARKS PHOEBE JACOBS
Executive Vice President, Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation
RAY BROWN, JR.
Son of Ella Fitzgerald
CLOSING NANCY WILSON
FIRST DAY OF ISSUE CEREMONY January 10, 2007, 11 :00 a.m. The Allen Room, Frederick P. Rose Hall Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center New York, NY
SPECIAL GUESTS VINNIE MALLOY
New York District Manager/Postmaster, United States Postal Service
BARBARA A. MCKINZIE
International President, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
PAUL DAVIS
Artist
SYLVIA H ARRIS
Member, Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
JESSICA H ELSAND
Member, Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
MARUCHI SANTANA
Member, Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
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FITZGERALD
THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE honors Ella Fitzgerald, jazz singer, and
Grammy Award winner with the 30th stamp in its popular Black Heritage commemorative stamp series.
ART DIRECTOR ETHEL KESSLER lauds the stamp portrait of Fitzgerald by illustrator Paul Davis of New York, for the way it captures the joy and excitement of Fitzgerald's music.
BORN APRIL 25, 1917, IN NEWPORT NEWS, VA, Fitzgerald was still very young when she moved with her mother to Yonkers, NY. From an early age, she loved to sing and dance. Although charmed by her performances, people laughed when she told them she was going to be famous. In 1932, after her mother died, she went to live with her aunt in Harlem. By the time she
was 16, she was on her own, dancing on the street for tips. In November 1934, Fitzgerald entered an amateur competition at the historic Apollo Theater to show off her dancing skills. At the last minute, she decided to sing instead and was named
the winner. Not long after that, at the Harlem Opera House, she won another talent competition.
OVER THE YEARS, Fitzgerald won 13 Grammy Awards and many other honors, including the National Medal of Arts, presented to her in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan. She was one of five artists awarded Kennedy Center Honors in 1979. In 1989, the Society of Singers created an award for lifetime achievement, called it the "Ella," and made her its first recipient.
MANY REMEMBER FITZGERALD as one of America's most distinctive singers of jazz and popular tunes and widely known as "The First Lady of Song."
Photograph: Ella Fitzgerald Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.
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~ UNITEDST/J.TES ~ POST/J.L SERVICE
first day of issue ceremony
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