Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald

jazz, soul, swing, traditional pop

United States

"Fitzgerald’s music dances through space with buoyant phrasing and rhythmic playfulness, crafting a rich tapestry of sound that pulses with life."

Quick Start

A good place to start with Ella Fitzgerald is…

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book

1957

Ella Fitzgerald matters because she redefined what it means to be a vocalist in jazz, elevating the role of improvisation and emotional expression.
Ella Fitzgerald matters because she redefined what it means to be a vocalist in jazz, elevating the role of improvisation and emotional expression. Her ability to transcend mere technical prowess allowed listeners to experience music in a deeply personal way, making her a cultural touchstone who inspired generations of artists across genres. Fitzgerald's influence is palpable in how contemporary vocalists approach phrasing and interpretation, often drawing from her fearless exploration of melody and rhythm. Fitzgerald's innovative approach to singing involved her remarkable scat technique and mastery of phrasing, enabling her to weave intricate vocal lines that could mimic instruments. She approached each performance with an improvisational spirit that transformed standard songs into new narratives, compelling audiences to engage with music on an emotional level. By blending heartfelt delivery with playful experimentation, she brought a sense of spontaneity to the stage that invited listeners into her world. Lyrically, Fitzgerald often navigated themes of love, loss, and joy, reflecting the complexities of human experience. Her storytelling approach combined sincerity with a touch of whimsy, allowing listeners to find both comfort and excitement within her performances. This duality in her voice invites audiences to connect emotionally while also appreciating the artistry behind her delivery.

Full discography

Ella Fitzgerald's albums in order, from earliest releases to latest.

118 releases 87 albums 1944–2020
Type:

Albums ()

The Lost Berlin Tapes album by Ella Fitzgerald

The Lost Berlin Tapes

2020

Ella at Zardi’s album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella at Zardi’s

2017

Twelve Nights in Hollywood album by Ella Fitzgerald

Twelve Nights in Hollywood

2009

Gold album by Ella Fitzgerald

Gold

2007

Ella Fitzgerald Live at Mister Kelly's album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald Live at Mister Kelly's

2007

Jukebox Ella: The Complete Verve Singles, Vol. 1 album by Ella Fitzgerald

Jukebox Ella: The Complete Verve Singles, Vol. 1

2003

A Perfect Match album by Ella Fitzgerald

A Perfect Match

2002

Sophisticated Lady album by Ella Fitzgerald

Sophisticated Lady

2001

Ella in Budapest album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella in Budapest

1999

The Complete Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong on Verve album by Ella Fitzgerald

The Complete Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong on Verve

1997

The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books album by Ella Fitzgerald

The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books

1994

Ella Returns to Berlin album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Returns to Berlin

1991

Ella Fitzgerald 1939 album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald 1939

1990

Ella Fitzgerald 1938-1939 album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald 1938-1939

1990

Ella Fitzgerald 1935-1937 album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald 1935-1937

1990

Ella Fitzgerald 1937-1938 album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald 1937-1938

1990

All That Jazz album by Ella Fitzgerald

All That Jazz

1989

Ella in Rome: The Birthday Concert album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella in Rome: The Birthday Concert

1988

Easy Living album by Ella Fitzgerald

Easy Living

1986

The Stockholm Concert album by Ella Fitzgerald

The Stockholm Concert

1984

Nice Work If You Can Get It – Ella Fitzgerald & Andre Previn Do Gershwin album by Ella Fitzgerald

Nice Work If You Can Get It – Ella Fitzgerald & Andre Previn Do Gershwin

1983

Speak Love album by Ella Fitzgerald

Speak Love

1983

Ella à Nice album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella à Nice

1982

The Best Is Yet to Come album by Ella Fitzgerald

The Best Is Yet to Come

1982

Ella Abraça Jobim – Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Antonio Carlos Jobim Songbook album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Abraça Jobim – Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Antonio Carlos Jobim Songbook

1981

A Classy Pair album by Ella Fitzgerald

A Classy Pair

1979

Fine and Mellow album by Ella Fitzgerald

Fine and Mellow

1979

Dream Dancing album by Ella Fitzgerald

Dream Dancing

1978

Lady Time album by Ella Fitzgerald

Lady Time

1978

Montreux '77 (Tommy Flanagan album) album by Ella Fitzgerald

Montreux '77 (Tommy Flanagan album)

1977

Ella and Oscar album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella and Oscar

1976

Fitzgerald and Pass... Again album by Ella Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald and Pass... Again

1976

Montreux '75 album by Ella Fitzgerald

Montreux '75

1975

Take Love Easy album by Ella Fitzgerald

Take Love Easy

1973

Newport Jazz Festival: Live at Carnegie Hall album by Ella Fitzgerald

Newport Jazz Festival: Live at Carnegie Hall

1973

Jazz at Santa Monica Civic '72 album by Ella Fitzgerald

Jazz at Santa Monica Civic '72

1972

Ella Loves Cole album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Loves Cole

1972

Ella in Hamburg album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella in Hamburg

Ella at Juan-Les-Pins album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella at Juan-Les-Pins

Pure Ella album by Ella Fitzgerald

Pure Ella

Sunshine of Your Love album by Ella Fitzgerald

Sunshine of Your Love

Ella in London album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella in London

Digital III at Montreux album by Ella Fitzgerald

Digital III at Montreux

Ella in Japan: 'S Wonderful album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella in Japan: 'S Wonderful

Montreux '77 (Ella Fitzgerald album) album by Ella Fitzgerald

Montreux '77 (Ella Fitzgerald album)

Ella album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella

1969

Misty Blue album by Ella Fitzgerald

Misty Blue

1968

30 by Ella album by Ella Fitzgerald

30 by Ella

1968

Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas

1967

Brighten the Corner album by Ella Fitzgerald

Brighten the Corner

1967

Ella & Duke at the Cote D'Azur album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella & Duke at the Cote D'Azur

1967

Whisper Not album by Ella Fitzgerald

Whisper Not

1966

Ella at Duke's Place album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella at Duke's Place

1965

Hello, Dolly! album by Ella Fitzgerald

Hello, Dolly!

1964

Sings the Johnny Mercer Songbook album by Ella Fitzgerald

Sings the Johnny Mercer Songbook

1964

These Are the Blues album by Ella Fitzgerald

These Are the Blues

1963

Ella and Basie! album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella and Basie!

1963

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Jerome Kern Songbook album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Jerome Kern Songbook

1963

Ella Sings Broadway album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Sings Broadway

1963

Rhythm Is My Business album by Ella Fitzgerald

Rhythm Is My Business

1962

Ella Swings Gently with Nelson album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Swings Gently with Nelson

1962

Ella Swings Brightly with Nelson album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Swings Brightly with Nelson

1962

Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! album by Ella Fitzgerald

Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie!

1961

Ella in Hollywood album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella in Hollywood

1961

Sings the Harold Arlen Songbook album by Ella Fitzgerald

Sings the Harold Arlen Songbook

1961

Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas

1960

Hello, Love album by Ella Fitzgerald

Hello, Love

1960

Ella Fitzgerald Sings Songs from "Let No Man Write My Epitaph" album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald Sings Songs from "Let No Man Write My Epitaph"

1960

Ella in Berlin: Mack the Knife album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella in Berlin: Mack the Knife

1960

Ella Fitzgerald Sings Sweet Songs for Swingers album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald Sings Sweet Songs for Swingers

1959

Get Happy! album by Ella Fitzgerald

Get Happy!

1959

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook

1959

At Newport album by Ella Fitzgerald

At Newport

1958

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Songbook album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Songbook

1958

Ella Swings Lightly album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Swings Lightly

1958

At the Opera House album by Ella Fitzgerald

At the Opera House

1958

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book

1957

Like Someone in Love album by Ella Fitzgerald

Like Someone in Love

1957

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook

1956

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers and Hart Songbook album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers and Hart Songbook

1956

Songs from Pete Kelly's Blues album by Ella Fitzgerald

Songs from Pete Kelly's Blues

1955

Lullabies of Birdland album by Ella Fitzgerald

Lullabies of Birdland

1955

Sweet and Hot album by Ella Fitzgerald

Sweet and Hot

1955

Invite You to Listen and Relax album by Ella Fitzgerald

Invite You to Listen and Relax

1955

For Sentimental Reasons… album by Ella Fitzgerald

For Sentimental Reasons…

1955

Ella – Songs in a Mellow Mood album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella – Songs in a Mellow Mood

1954

Ella Sings Gershwin album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Sings Gershwin

1950

Singles ()

Ringo Beat album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ringo Beat

1965

Lover, Come Back To Me / Old Devil Moon album by Ella Fitzgerald

Lover, Come Back To Me / Old Devil Moon

1955

Moanin' Low / Taking a Chance on Love album by Ella Fitzgerald

Moanin' Low / Taking a Chance on Love

1955

Lullaby of Birdland / Later album by Ella Fitzgerald

Lullaby of Birdland / Later

1954

I Wished on the Moon / Who's Afraid (Not I, Not I, Not I) album by Ella Fitzgerald

I Wished on the Moon / Who's Afraid (Not I, Not I, Not I)

1954

Baby / I Need album by Ella Fitzgerald

Baby / I Need

1954

(If You Can't Sing It) You'll Have to Swing It – Part 1 / (If You Can't Sing It) You'll Have to Swing It – Concluded album by Ella Fitzgerald

(If You Can't Sing It) You'll Have to Swing It – Part 1 / (If You Can't Sing It) You'll Have to Swing It – Concluded

1953

Angel Eyes / Nowhere Guy album by Ella Fitzgerald

Angel Eyes / Nowhere Guy

1953

My Favorite Song / Walkin' by the River album by Ella Fitzgerald

My Favorite Song / Walkin' by the River

1952

Air Mail Special / Goody Goody album by Ella Fitzgerald

Air Mail Special / Goody Goody

1952

A Guy Is a Guy / That Old Feeling album by Ella Fitzgerald

A Guy Is a Guy / That Old Feeling

1952

Rough Ridin' / I Don't Want to Take a Chance album by Ella Fitzgerald

Rough Ridin' / I Don't Want to Take a Chance

1952

Smooth Sailing / Love You Madly album by Ella Fitzgerald

Smooth Sailing / Love You Madly

1951

Mixed Emotions / Come On-a My House album by Ella Fitzgerald

Mixed Emotions / Come On-a My House

1951

There Never Was a Baby Like My Baby / Give a Little - Get a Little album by Ella Fitzgerald

There Never Was a Baby Like My Baby / Give a Little - Get a Little

1951

The Chesapeake and Ohio / Because of Rain album by Ella Fitzgerald

The Chesapeake and Ohio / Because of Rain

1951

Baby Doll / Lady Bug album by Ella Fitzgerald

Baby Doll / Lady Bug

1951

I Hadn't Anyone Till You / Dream a Little Longer album by Ella Fitzgerald

I Hadn't Anyone Till You / Dream a Little Longer

1950

Foolish Tears / A Man Wrote a Song album by Ella Fitzgerald

Foolish Tears / A Man Wrote a Song

1949

Lover's Gold / Black Coffee album by Ella Fitzgerald

Lover's Gold / Black Coffee

1949

Basin Street Blues / I'm Waitin' for the Junkman album by Ella Fitzgerald

Basin Street Blues / I'm Waitin' for the Junkman

1949

I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair / Happy Talk album by Ella Fitzgerald

I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair / Happy Talk

1949

It's Too Soon to Know / I Can't Go On album by Ella Fitzgerald

It's Too Soon to Know / I Can't Go On

1948

How High the Moon / You Turned the Tables on Me album by Ella Fitzgerald

How High the Moon / You Turned the Tables on Me

1948

Oh, Lady Be Good! / Flying Home album by Ella Fitzgerald

Oh, Lady Be Good! / Flying Home

1947

That's My Desire / A Sunday Kind of Love album by Ella Fitzgerald

That's My Desire / A Sunday Kind of Love

1947

Guilty / Sentimental Journey album by Ella Fitzgerald

Guilty / Sentimental Journey

1947

You're Breaking In a New Heart (While You're Breaking Mine) / Don't You Think I Ought to Know album by Ella Fitzgerald

You're Breaking In a New Heart (While You're Breaking Mine) / Don't You Think I Ought to Know

1947

(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons / It's a Pity to Say Goodnight album by Ella Fitzgerald

(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons / It's a Pity to Say Goodnight

1946

It's Only a Paper Moon / (I'm Gonna Hurry You Out of My Mind and) Cry You Out of My Heart album by Ella Fitzgerald

It's Only a Paper Moon / (I'm Gonna Hurry You Out of My Mind and) Cry You Out of My Heart

1945

And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine / Confessin' (That I Love You) album by Ella Fitzgerald

And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine / Confessin' (That I Love You)

1944

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Timeline

How their sound evolved over time

Ella Sings Gershwin
Ella Sings Gershwin (1950)
Ella – Songs in a Mellow Mood
Ella – Songs in a Me... (1954)
Songs from Pete Kelly's Blues
Songs from Pete Kell... (1955)
Lullabies of Birdland
Lullabies of Birdlan... (1955)
Sweet and Hot
Sweet and Hot (1955)
Invite You to Listen and Relax
Invite You to Listen... (1955)
For Sentimental Reasons…
For Sentimental Reas... (1955)
Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald Sing... (1956)
Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers and Hart Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald Sing... (1956)
Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book
Ella Fitzgerald Sing... (1957)
Like Someone in Love
Like Someone in Love (1957)
At Newport
At Newport (1958)
Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald Sing... (1958)
Ella Swings Lightly
Ella Swings Lightly (1958)
At the Opera House
At the Opera House (1958)
Ella Fitzgerald Sings Sweet Songs for Swingers
Ella Fitzgerald Sing... (1959)
Get Happy!
Get Happy! (1959)
Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald Sing... (1959)
Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas
Ella Wishes You a Sw... (1960)
Hello, Love
Hello, Love (1960)
Ella Fitzgerald Sings Songs from "Let No Man Write My Epitaph"
Ella Fitzgerald Sing... (1960)
Ella in Berlin: Mack the Knife
Ella in Berlin: Mack... (1960)
Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie!
Clap Hands, Here Com... (1961)
Ella in Hollywood
Ella in Hollywood (1961)
Sings the Harold Arlen Songbook
Sings the Harold Arl... (1961)
Rhythm Is My Business
Rhythm Is My Busines... (1962)
Ella Swings Gently with Nelson
Ella Swings Gently w... (1962)
Ella Swings Brightly with Nelson
Ella Swings Brightly... (1962)
These Are the Blues
These Are the Blues (1963)
Ella and Basie!
Ella and Basie! (1963)
Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Jerome Kern Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald Sing... (1963)
Ella Sings Broadway
Ella Sings Broadway (1963)
Hello, Dolly!
Hello, Dolly! (1964)
Sings the Johnny Mercer Songbook
Sings the Johnny Mer... (1964)
Ella at Duke's Place
Ella at Duke's Place (1965)
Whisper Not
Whisper Not (1966)
Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas
Ella Fitzgerald's Ch... (1967)
Brighten the Corner
Brighten the Corner (1967)
Ella & Duke at the Cote D'Azur
Ella & Duke at the C... (1967)
Misty Blue
Misty Blue (1968)
30 by Ella
30 by Ella (1968)
Ella
Ella (1969)
Ella Loves Cole
Ella Loves Cole (1972)
Jazz at Santa Monica Civic '72
Jazz at Santa Monica... (1972)
Take Love Easy
Take Love Easy (1973)
Newport Jazz Festival: Live at Carnegie Hall
Newport Jazz Festiva... (1973)
Montreux '75
Montreux '75 (1975)
Ella and Oscar
Ella and Oscar (1976)
Fitzgerald and Pass... Again
Fitzgerald and Pass.... (1976)
Montreux '77 (Tommy Flanagan album)
Montreux '77 (Tommy... (1977)
Dream Dancing
Dream Dancing (1978)
Lady Time
Lady Time (1978)
A Classy Pair
A Classy Pair (1979)
Fine and Mellow
Fine and Mellow (1979)
Ella Abraça Jobim – Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Antonio Carlos Jobim Songbook
Ella Abraça Jobim –... (1981)
Ella à Nice
Ella à Nice (1982)
The Best Is Yet to Come
The Best Is Yet to C... (1982)
Nice Work If You Can Get It – Ella Fitzgerald & Andre Previn Do Gershwin
Nice Work If You Can... (1983)
Speak Love
Speak Love (1983)
The Stockholm Concert
The Stockholm Concer... (1984)
Easy Living
Easy Living (1986)
Ella in Rome: The Birthday Concert
Ella in Rome: The Bi... (1988)
All That Jazz
All That Jazz (1989)
Ella Fitzgerald 1939
Ella Fitzgerald 1939 (1990)
Ella Fitzgerald 1938-1939
Ella Fitzgerald 1938... (1990)
Ella Fitzgerald 1935-1937
Ella Fitzgerald 1935... (1990)
Ella Fitzgerald 1937-1938
Ella Fitzgerald 1937... (1990)
Ella Returns to Berlin
Ella Returns to Berl... (1991)
The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books
The Complete Ella Fi... (1994)
The Complete Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong on Verve
The Complete Ella Fi... (1997)
Ella in Budapest
Ella in Budapest (1999)
Sophisticated Lady
Sophisticated Lady (2001)
A Perfect Match
A Perfect Match (2002)
Jukebox Ella: The Complete Verve Singles, Vol. 1
Jukebox Ella: The Co... (2003)
Gold
Gold (2007)
Ella Fitzgerald Live at Mister Kelly's
Ella Fitzgerald Live... (2007)
Twelve Nights in Hollywood
Twelve Nights in Hol... (2009)
Ella at Zardi’s
Ella at Zardi’s (2017)
The Lost Berlin Tapes
The Lost Berlin Tape... (2020)

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Ella Fitzgerald sound like?

Fitzgerald’s music dances through space with buoyant phrasing and rhythmic playfulness, crafting a rich tapestry of sound that pulses with life. Rooted in jazz and soul. Start with Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book.

What is the best Ella Fitzgerald album to start with?

The best album to start with is "Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book" (1957). It's the most representative of what makes Ella Fitzgerald worth hearing.

Who is Ella Fitzgerald for?

If you're into jazz and soul, Ella Fitzgerald is worth your time. Fitzgerald’s music dances through space with buoyant phrasing and rhythmic playfulness, crafting a rich tapestry of sound that pulses with life.

How many albums does Ella Fitzgerald have?

Ella Fitzgerald has 118 releases in their discography, including 87 albums.