First Lady of Song: Ella Fitzgerald for the Record

Chronicles the personal life and singing career of the well-known jazz artist and discusses her impact on contemporary music

Like Stuart Nicholson, author of Ella Fitzgerald , Fidelman met resistance when he set out to write an authorized biography. In spite of being rebuffed, he produced this "labor of love and respect" in which he illuminates Fitzgerald's elusive personality in an earnest if unauthorized portrait. Fitzgerald's early years have always been sanitized and for good reason. Never a well-cared-for child, Fitzgerald ended up on the streets after her mother died and was a noticeably ragged figure when she appeared in one of the Apollo Theater's famous talent shows. Fitzgerald had intended to dance but was so nervous she sang instead and brought down the house. A career was launched, and Fitzgerald devoted herself to her music, maintaining a schedule few could survive, and it did take a toll on her health. Fidelman documents every recording and every tour, pausing to wonder how much Fitzgerald's manager Norman Granz was to blame for the singer overworking herself even after she developed multiple health problems. Differences in interpretation and emphasis between Fidelman and Nicholson make both books required reading for jazz fans. Donna Seaman