African American Music History Ella Fitzgerald Concert Career and Performance Ephemera Photographs and Programs 1960s to 1970s and later

Ella Fitzgerald

Archive

Fitzgerald, Ella, archive of nine items dating from 1961 through the 1970s with later commemorative material, documents the performance career and public reception of Ella Fitzgerald, a central figure in twentieth century jazz and popular music and one of the first African American women to achieve sustained international acclaim in the recording industry. By the 1960s, Fitzgerald had established a global touring presence, performing across the United States and Europe while collaborating with leading jazz musicians including Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie. The materials trace her stage career, rehearsal practices, and public image, including performances, press distribution, and retrospective recognition of her influence. Photographs capture Fitzgerald both in live performance and in rehearsal contexts, while the programs document the presentation of her career to audiences through biographical narratives and visual imagery.

Fitzgerald, Ella. Archive of concert programs, photographs, and publicity material. Various locations including United States and United Kingdom venues, 1961 to 1997. Nine items total comprising two black and white silver gelatin press photographs, one publicity photocard, and six concert programs, measuring approximately 5.5 x 3.5 inches to 12 x 9 inches. Includes:
[1] Silver gelatin press photograph of Fitzgerald performing on stage, 1963, approximately 9 x 7 inches.
[2] Silver gelatin press photograph of Fitzgerald in rehearsal holding sheet music, 1969, accompanied by original press kit folder and Reprise Records promotional pamphlet.
[3] Publicity photocard issued for Billboard Music Week with portrait and printed biographical text, approximately 5.5 x 3.5 inches.
[4] Program titled An Evening With Ella, 1960s, illustrated wrappers with extensive photographic content and biographical essay.
[5] Program for Westbury Music Fair, New York, 1970s, featuring Fitzgerald alongside other jazz performers with accompanying career summary.
[6] Concert program for An Evening with Ella Fitzgerald & the Oscar Peterson Quartet, United Kingdom, 1961, with essay and performance images.
[7] Concert program, 1968, with biographical article and photographic documentation including Fitzgerald’s appearance at the United Nations.
[8] Souvenir concert program titled An Evening With Ella, illustrated wrappers with multiple performance photographs and references to collaborations with artists such as Pearl Bailey and Billy Eckstine.
[9] Hollywood Bowl tribute program honoring Fitzgerald’s career, Los Angeles, 1997, featuring performances by artists including the Count Basie Orchestra and Dianne Reeves.

This archive traces Fitzgerald’s sustained presence in live performance circuits and her evolving public image from mid century touring artist to posthumous subject of tribute, illustrating the institutionalization of her legacy within American music history. The programs reveal how her career was framed through biography and visual documentation for concert audiences, while the press materials demonstrate the role of media distribution in shaping her public identity. The inclusion of both contemporary and retrospective materials underscores the longevity of her influence across decades of jazz performance and popular culture, offering material for the study of African American music, celebrity, and global touring networks. Minor edge wear and light chipping to one program; materials remain clean and well preserved. Overall very good condition.

Item #21005

Price: $725.00