Sunday Diva/Three From The Hip: Ella Fitzgerald

Sunday Diva/Three From The Hip: 

Ella Fitzgerald

In my own personal big gay church there is a wing dedicated to those who are truly unique and one of a kind. For one such fine example, look no further than...

Ella Fitzgerald.

The First Lady of Song.

The Queen of Jazz.

Lady Ella.

No one hears it the way she does. 

She may have stolen from the horn section, but she made it all her own.

Her attack was exact. But pay attention, Jack, because you never know where she might be going.

Go tripping the light fantastic to her groove? You better know what your doing, son or you will be tripping all over yourself.

She lived for music. It was her one true love. 

And that love?

She shared with the world and we are all better for it.

The gospel according to her?

Well, here are three from her hip, dropping from her lips.

The topic? Being Shy

"I know I'm no glamour girl, and it's not easy for me to get up in front of a crowd of people. It used to bother me a lot, but now I've got it figured out that God gave me this talent to use, so I just stand there and sing."

"I used to be very self-conscious. I used to wish I was pretty. My cousin Georgia always taught me that if you smile, people will like you. Sometimes people will say something you don't like, and you get angry a bit, but you just smile. You let it go by, even if you really would like to choke 'em. By smiling, I think I've made more friends than if I was the other way."

"I'm very shy, and I shy away from people. But the moment I hit the stage, it's a different feeling. I get nerve from somewhere; maybe it's because it's something I love to do."

A-Tiskit, A-Tasket - Ella Fitzgerald

It Don't Mean A Thing, If It Ain't Got That Swing

Ella Fitzgerald And Duke Ellington

Satin Doll - Ella Fitzgerald

And one last parting shot...

"Listen to her voice, don't look at her."