In 1934, a shy seventeen-year-old named Ella Fitzgerald stepped onto the stage at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York. She had planned to dance, but she was too nervous. At the last moment, she decided to sing instead. The audience loved her. Born on April 25, 1917, Fitzgerald went on to become one of the most celebrated singers in history. Her voice had an incredible three-octave range. She could sing soft ballads that brought people to tears and fast jazz songs that left audiences cheering. She was especially famous for scat singing. In this style, the singer uses nonsense syllables instead of words to improvise along with the music. Fitzgerald's life was not easy. She grew up poor after her mother died. She spent time in a reform school before escaping to pursue music. Despite these challenges, she recorded over 200 albums and won 13 Grammy Awards. She performed with the greatest musicians of her era, including Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. People called her the First Lady of Song. Her voice was so pure and versatile that it set the standard for every singer who came after her.