An ‘Ella’ Award for All That Jazz : Society Bows to Fitzgerald’s Lifetime of Achievements

Ella Fitzgerald was holding court like a queen, but speaking like an old friend.

“I’m feeling pretty good, thank you,” she replied to an inquiry about her health (she had open-heart surgery in 1986). “The doctor gave me some therapy, and I go twice a week.”

Did she have a nice birthday on April 25?

“Oh yes. I sat at home, and people sent me flowers. I couldn’t get off the phone!”

Nor could she escape from fans who huddled around her chair at a reception/photo opportunity that preceded the Society of Singers tribute to the 71-year-old Fitzgerald Friday night at the Beverly Hilton.

They converged to honor her, the winner of the first “Ella” lifetime achievement award, and she welcomed them all, the friends, the fans, the flashbulbs.

There is definitely an audience for jazz among young music lovers, said Fitzgerald. “We play lots of colleges and universities,” she said, “and we mix the program up. It’s not all bop. We do Cole Porter, Rogers and Hammerstein, a little rock and roll; jazz done in the beat of the day.”

She added that she was “thrilled” to be associated with the Society of Singers, a group founded to raise money to help singers in need of medical or other emergency care that eventually plans to build a permanent residence for singers. (The event was almost totally underwritten by Johnnie Walker Black, and net proceeds were estimated at $500,000.)

Frank Sinatra is literally the chairman of the board of this organization; Ginny Mancini (wife of composer Henry) is the president and was the benefit coordinator along with Jeanne Hazard.

“It was destined, it was honest, it was heartfelt, it was done without anything in its way,” said Mancini of the decision to honor Fitzgerald. “It was unquestionable that she should be the one.”

“A Tisket A Tasket” was the first Fitzgerald song Mancini recalled hearing. “What I heard I had never experienced in a singer of a lyric,” she said. “I can’t define it for you. But I felt complete.”

Jazz singer Joe Williams said his association with Fitzgerald has gone from “an admirer to a devotee to an absolute slave. She’s marvelous. God, she’s unbelievable.”

Although the room became crowded quickly, it soon became a jazz lover’s dream. In the crowd were Mel Torme, Bea Wain, Kitty Kallen, Kar Starr, members of the Manhattan Transfer and George Shearing.

Still, some wondered where the next generation of singers were.

“Look around,” said Kallen. “Where are the young ones? Where are the Linda Ronstadts, the Michael Jacksons? Who’s going to take the mantle? Yes, they’re making money now, but they don’t realize how many singers died in county hospitals.”

The “young ones” missed out on a tremendous show, with everyone dedicating their performances to Fitzgerald. The capacity crowd couldn’t help singing along with Kallan, Wain, Starr, Martha Tilton, Fran Warren, Helen O’Connell, Helen Forrest and the Sentimentalists, who performed signature songs from their tables.

There was more singing from Williams, Marilyn McCoo, Dionne Warwick, the Manhattan Transfer, a tap performance by Arthur Duncan and jazz piano from Shearing, who also accompanied Torme. He earned a standing ovation for “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square.” Backing everyone up was the Capp/Pierce Juggernaut Band.

Said emcee Bill Cosby after hearing the female big-band singers, “I don’t understand--we’re raising money to build a home. For what? They need a place to work .”

The audience heartily agreed.

Scattered among the tables were more luminaries: Barbra Streisand, Quincy Jones (honorary chairmen along with Luciano Pavarotti, who didn’t attend), Clint Eastwood, Maj. Ronald Ferguson (the Duchess of York’s father), Carol Bayer Sager and Burt Bacharach, Gloria Loring, Helen Reddy, Pat Boone, Gloria and Jimmy Stewart, Mayor Tom Bradley, Danny Thomas, Cyd Charisse and Tony Martin, Lainie Kazan.

Eastwood presented the award to Fitzgerald, who apologized for her nervousness. “All of you singers can understand how you can get nervous at such an occasion,” she said.

She accepted the award “for all of the great singers everywhere. This is not just for me alone. It’s for those who are trying to become something, and for those who have fallen down by the byway.” She paused. “By God, I’m trying to make a speech and it’s the worst.”

But the greatest present of all wasn’t the award, wasn’t the fact that the singers were invited on stage at the end to sing “Dream” and “Happy Birthday To You.”

Fitzgerald was persuaded to sing “Honeysuckle Rose.” And that was the best gift of all.