How does a legend become a legend?

Before she became the First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgerald was a young girl with a dream and determination, who overcame extraordinary odds. Acclaimed chanteuse Amanda King shares Ella Fitzgerald’s origins, inspirations and music from the 1930s era and her time with the Chick Webb Orchestra, in a swinging show of song and history, Ella The Early Years.

Amanda King is a musical historian and classic chanteuse who performs standards and jazz. Hailed by Stephen Holden in the New York Times as one of the nightclub world’s “exceptional rising talents”, Amanda is vivacious, captivating, and brings to mind the great ladies of song. A love for classic musicals and pre-1950s American music fostered the creation of Ella, The Early Years, a heartwarming and joy-filled musical celebration of Ella Fitzgerald’s beginnings and early career through great music and superb storytelling. A cultural retrospective coupled with a fantastic jazz concert, Ella The Early Years is scalable from trio to big band, entertains as it informs, and is available for workshops, residencies or master classes that can satisfy an ‘arts in education’ requirement. A staple in the speakeasy of the famed Las Vegas Mob Museum, Amanda King thrills lovers of vintage Americana of all ages!

Other great programs and workshops include:

  • Lost Women Forgotten Songs – uncover pioneering women of the 1920s and music from the Depression/WWII eras. You’ll enjoy songs and stories about Native American jazz singer Mildred Bailey (muse to Billie Holiday!), Blanche Calloway (Cab’s big sister!) and many more. A truly fascinating show of music and history!
  • Ladies Who Swing – highlighting music from the legendary female performers of 1930 to 1950 that you know and love (Peggy Lee, Pearl Bailey, Doris Day, etc), and others who left a treasure trove of music and history!
  • Amanda King Swings the Standards – a fresh take on the Great American Songbook from a chanteuse who focuses on the words and the swing! Filled with tried and true songs along with worthy works by little known composers from the 1930s and 1940s!
  • Movie Musical Magic – pay homage to the songs that made movies, and the movies that made songs, from the 1940s to today’s modern tunes!