The legend goes on from the Great jazz age on down
Of a singer some would call "Mellow Ella"
Lady Fitz, it is said, sang with tones, far ahead
Of gal singers, back then, and each fella..
She would launch a career, early in her fifteenth year
At the now famed theatre, Apollo
Had a dance routine, but she sang, and her dream
Of success, very soon, came to follow

Chick Webb's, was the band, where she would take a mike stand
And soon hit after hit filled her basket
Reaching number one peaks, lasting seventeen weeks
Was a favorite, "A Tisket, A Tasket"
With great rhythm and swing, she could master'flly scat sing
Beyond all female vocalists, frilly
Was soon to be seen, as the new Jazz Queen
Over sassy Miss Holiday, Billie

When Webb passed away, she stayed on with the band
Even led the orchestra, touring
Going solo, she'd start, when the group broke apart
Found a contract with Decca, alluring
Was backed up lots..by the fabulous Ink Spots
Also traveled with Dizzy Gillespie
More bop in her bomps, and scat-filled romps
Made her "How High The Moon" cool and crispy

As "Fifties" rolled 'round, more jazz stature was found
And she married Ray Brown, a musician
Had a film career, thin.."Pete Kelly's Blues" she was in
A Jack Webb, independent production
She would conentrate next on her great songbook selects
Tunes of Gershwin and Porter, and Harold
Popularity's stay, FM jazz stations still play
Breezy Echoes Of Ella Fitzgerald

As anyone knows, love for jazz ever grows
Even as styles of music are changing
From Decca, she'd swerve to the new label, Verve
Waxed some Mercer and Kern, cool arranging
On these she stayed close to the melody notes
Recording with strings, softly backing
And proved with this style, she could still be versatile
Even tho' hard core jazz scats were lacking

The "Sixties" brought superior sings
Taking tours overseas at the same time
Updated her game for some "Seventies" fame
Songs like, "I Heard It Through The Grapevine"
Tho' not much success, she still, none-the-less
Would never be labeled a "Has Been"
Soon her fans got good news, in the form of "C Jam Blues"
At a concert with five classic jazzmen

Ella passed on in June, nineteen ninety six
Complications caused by diabetes
"The First Lady Of Song" who sang for us so long
With a voice, critics said, was the sweetest
But, legends live on, from the Great Jazz age on down
Smooth recordings, like hers, never wear old
Mellow tones are still heard, crystal clear, every word
From the Echoes Of Ella Fitzgerald