My Day: Ella Fitzgerald Award Comes to Dallas
Established by the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal , the Ella Fitzgerald Award celebrates the range, versatility and improvisational originality as well as the repertoire of a jazz singer. It is an international award being received by such giants as Diana Ross, Liza Minnelli, Diana Krall, Al Jarreau, Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin and oh-o-oo Dee Dee Bridgewater. What a lineup!
Erykah Badu is the recipient of the 17th Annual Ella Fitzgerald Award and still considers herself ‘a little girl from South Dallas’. Her credits have already earned her international status, but this prestigious award is certainly ‘icing-on-the-cake’. The Montreal Jazz Festival, held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, is the oldest and the largest music festival in the world boosting about 2.5 million visitors per year. It is definitely the place for jazz lovers. There are some 1,000 concerts, 15 indoors and 10 outdoors. The second largest is the Montreaux Jazz Festival is in Switzerland, also with record attendance.
Ella Fitzgerald first appeared at the Apollo Theatre in 1934. In 1958, Ella Fitzgerald became the first African American woman to win a Grammy Award. She returned to the Apollo and was billed as “Ella Fitzgerald and her Famous Orchestra”.
Erykah Badu is a native, a beloved star and a Booker T. Washington alum. She has a great sense of style.
Audiences are fascinated with her onstage boisterous personality. I personally enjoy her array of head dress couture, befittingly just so, and her range and ability to relate to her audiences. I have to note here, that not everybody can arrange, navigate and perform with a towering headdress on board. Over the years Erykah has dazzles us with many things to write about. Her appearance at the Essence Festival was the talk-of-the – town. She apparently gave the audience exactly what they ordered.
So, what can I say. Erykah Badu is a “gem” of many facets. It’s been a good year.
Congratulations!!! to our celebrity Ambassador. Dallas, is truly proud.
Ester Davis is an award winning writer and community television host. Visit our all-star stunning website at www.esterday.com
