How Good Was Ella Fitzgerald's Singing Voice?

The legendary jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald was celebrated as a unique talent whose virtuoso skills were matched only by her humility. But for those who worked with the "First Lady of Song," there was another side to that silky smooth voice and its original "scat" style: According to some of her band members, Fitzgerald had such perfect pitch that they could tune their instruments to her voice. One member of the jazz vocal group The Manhattan Transfer described playing with Fitzgerald as being like angels making music with God.

All about Ella:

• Before finding fame, Fitzgerald dealt with a tough childhood that included several run-ins with the law.
• At 17, Fitzgerald entered a dance contest at Harlem's Apollo Theater, but she switched over to singing and won the $25 grand prize.
• In her career, Fitzgerald won 13 Grammy Awards, as well as the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1967.