Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song (Carter G. Woodson Honor Book) [Hardcover]

Katherine E. Krohn (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 4-8-A straightforward, factual biography that begins with Fitzgerald's years as a struggling, homeless teenager who entered singing contests in Harlem. The author continues with descriptions of her subject's early career as the lead vocalist with Chick Webb and His Orchestra; her rise to celebrity status in 1938 at age 20 with her first hit record, "A-Tisket, A-Tasket"; her easy mastery of new techniques, such as bebop and scat singing; and her many awards and honors. Clear, detailed descriptions of the differences between swing bands and bebop bands, the art of scat, and the contributions of other jazz greats such as Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong make this book useful as a brief history of jazz as well as a biography. Bud Kliment's Ella Fitzgerald (Chelsea, 1988) has a chattier tone and includes more personal anecdotes and photos, but was written before Fitzgerald's 1996 death. However, Krohn incorrectly gives 1985 as the year Fitzgerald received the National Medal of Arts when it was really 1987, and her description of the Hollywood Bowl as "a club in Los Angeles" is an understatement roughly equivalent to calling the Grand Canyon a small indentation in the ground. Good-quality, black-and-white photos appear throughout, and there are two lists of online sources-one of sites devoted to Fitzgerald's life and career and a shorter one about the history of jazz.

Ginny Gustin, Sonoma County Library System, Santa Rosa, CA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Lerner Publications (March 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0822549336
• ISBN-13: 978-0822549338
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,749,164 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Katherine Elizabeth Krohn was born in Bitburg, Germany in 1961. At the time, her father, Don, was a physician in the United States Air Force. Her mother, Betty, was a homemaker. When Katherine was born, she had two older brothers (William and David) and an older sister (Vicki). A few months after her birth, the Krohns returned to the States and settled in the Detroit-area.

Krohn attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She currently lives in the Pacific Northwest.

Besides biographies, Katherine Krohn has written fiction, books about social issues, graphic science books, and books on metaphysical subjects such as haunted houses and fortune-telling. You can learn more about Katherine Krohn and her books on her website, http://www.katherinekrohn.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars A good place to begin, March 12, 2009

By 

F. Morris Rosman "Ella Expert" (Southern California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song (Carter G. Woodson Honor Book) (Hardcover)

For any libraries or schools with an interest in jazz, popular music or great American icons, this book should be included. It's easy to read, the index is helpful, and while there are a few errors, it's still pretty good. Very nice photographs included.