"Stuart Nicholson's biography of Ella Fitzgerald is considered a classic in jazz literature. Drawing on original documents, interviews, and new information, Nicholson draws a complete picture of Fitzgerald's professional and personal life. Fitzgerald rose from being a pop singer with chart-novelty hits in the late '30s to become a bandleader and then one of the greatest interpreters of American popular song. Along with Billie Holiday, she virtually defined the female voice in jazz, and countless others followed in her wake and acknowledged her enormous influence. Continuing to perform until age and illness made it impossible for her to go on, she left behind an incredible body of work, most still available on CDs today." "Fitzgerald was guarded about the facts of her life; a shy and self-effacing woman, she let her voice speak for itself. She rarely gave interviews on personal subjects, and discussed her life in only the most general terms. Coming from humble circumstances, even her birth date was widely misreported until Nicholson unearthed her original birth certificate. Through painstaking research and personal interviews with Fitzgerald's family, friends, and fellow musicians, Stuart Nicholson offers the first full picture of this singer's life and times." "For any lover of jazz or a fan of American popular music, Ella Fitzgerald: The Complete Biography is must-reading."--Jacket.