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How does it feel
to be among those
who didn’t look
the other way?
CAN
A M E R
An awkward and shy young girl dressed in
near rags and shoes that did not fit timidly
walked out onto the stage. This dance at a New
York City talent show would be her first public
performance. Her giddy schoolmates who dared
her into going on stage had no idea of what was
about to happen. While watching her strange
movements, the audience broke out in laughter.
As he bony knees began to uncontrollably bang
against one another the audience laughed even
harder. Embarrassed beyond comprehension,
the young girl turned to walk off the stage as
quickly as possible. Her legs however were
shaking so bad she could not move. Suddenly
To right wrongs of the world takes strength
and conviction. We offer our humble thanks to
those who do.
Bank of America honors
Mi
’ I
A J
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Bankof America
www.bankofamerica.com
Ella Fitzgerald captivates audiences
with her rich and soothing voice.
1
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Providence Health System-
Committed to diversity
in the workplace
As one of Oregon's largest private employers,
Providence Health System respects and values differences
in our patients and employees. We've developed programs
to support diverse needs and have been recognized as
one of the best places to work in the state.
At Providence, we honor diversity while sharing a
common goal-making a difference in your health.
P r o v id e n c e | H e a lth S ystem
by Ron Weber
The First Lady o f Song
Young black teen
rises to elegant singer
i
February 04. 2004
the idea hit her that she should sing instead of
attempting to dance. Her voice was barely
audible above the roaring laughter, but soon the
crowd silenced and the auditorium was filled
with music that silenced the mocking audience.
They looked about to see where the beautiful
voice singing “The Object of My Affection”
was coming from. As her voice rose, filling the
auditorium with such rarely heard beauty, they
realized the voice was coming from the young
teenager on the stage. When she finished, not a
laugh was heard. Instead, rapturous applause
filled the auditorium. The same audience that
came to mock, gave 16- year-old Ella Fitzgerald
three encores and a first place prize. A legend
had been bom. The year was 1934.
Born on April 15, 19 18 in Newport News,
Va., baby Ella soon lost her father to sudden
medical problems. Ella’s father had been a
guitar musician and a singer. Now a widow,
her mother who had a gorgeous soprano
voice was forced to move in with relatives in
Yonkers, N.Y. With her family always en
couraging her musical talent, Ella took les
sons and sang at every opportunity. Less
than one year after winning her first amateur
talent contest, Ella won another first place.
This one was at the Harlem Opera House
and earned her a spot on CBS Radio with the
Arthur Trace Radio Show.
Suddenly, her music career appeared to
end even before getting started. At 17 her
mother had to sign a contract allowing her to
sing on the radio. But without warning her
mom died and Ella was now considered an
orphan by the state of New York. Although
relatives tried to take her in, state investiga
tors got wind of an abusive stepfather som e
where in the picture and insisted she would
be better off in an orphanage.
Stuck in a state-run home for unwanted
children with no hope for any musical career,
Ella hoped and waited. Finally her desire to sing
became too strong. She escaped the orphanage
and entered another contest, this one at the
Apollo Theater in New York. Again winning
first place, she also was given $50, a hefty sum
tor an orphaned teenager in the depression
years.
While Ella Fitzgerald’s life had been on a
serious down turn, this night would turn things
around for good. Unknown to Ella, in the audi
ence that night was Bardu Ali, director of the
Chick Webb Band. In a short time, Webb, who
was amazed with her talent at such a young age,
hired her. Still a teenager, the state intervened
once again. Webb and his wife quickly adopted
their new sensation, ending state control for
once and all.
E lla ’s success never stopped grow ing
throughout her long career. Along the way, her
talent would be joined with Billy Holiday, Duke
Ellington, Nat King Cole, The Ink Spots, Louis
Armstrong and many others. She would win 12
Grammies and scores of enviable awards. With
several “million sellers^” the list of her songs and
other accomplishments could fill a book. In fact
they did. A local author, J. Wilfred Johnson, has
published acomplete list of all her works in, Ella
Fitzgerald; An Annotated Dichotomy. From
her first record. Love and Kisses, Fitzgerald’s
top sellers included, A Tisket A Taskit, In To
Each Life Some Rain M ust Fall, and I ’m
Beginning to See the Light. ” Johnson, who
has spoken to Fitzgerald many times and visited
her at her home in Beverly Hills, still resides in
northwest Portland. The book took him more
than 10 years and during this time he spoke to
more than 100 people close to Fitzgerald. His
work is available in book stores and the
Multnomah Public Library.
Near the end of her life, the once scrawny
lonely orphan who overcame so many odds to
become a legendary singer would show us
again how to overcome adversity. Enduring i
cataract surgery, a triple heart by-pass, and thqr,
loss of both her legs to diabetes, she continued
to entertain her beloved audiences well into the
1990s.
,o
Ella Fitzgerald, the “First Lady of Song,” left
us in 1996. Although her body is gone, her music
will remain with us for an eternity. Some say
that her voice can still be heard on a star-lit night
over New York City, accompanied by the
angels above.
11
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We have im m ediate openings in many fields,
offering paid training, full m edical/dental,
30 days paid vacation, tuition assistance and
a great retirem ent plan. If you want to do
something different, feel the need to give
something back and have the desire for world
travel, we can help you
A c a rin g d if f e r e n c e y o u can f e e l
ACCELERATE YOUR LIFE!
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Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital • Providence Health Plans
Call us today at 1-800-646-6289 (toll-free),
or e-mail us at: lptjport@cnrc.navy.mil
View current employment opportunities and apply online at www.providence.org
or visit our Employment Center at 1235 NE 47th Avenue, Suite 200, Portland
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