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"What's she going to do?"
In 1934 Ella's name was pulled in a
weekly drawing at the Apollo and she won the opportunity
to compete in Amateur Night. Ella went to the theater
that night planning to dance, but when the frenzied Edwards
Sisters closed the main show, Ella changed her mind. "They
were the dancingest sisters around," said Ella, and
she felt her act would not compare.
Once on stage, faced with boos and murmurs of "What's
she going to do?" from the rowdy crowd, a scared
and disheveled Ella made the last minute decision to sing.
She asked the band to play Hoagy Carmichael's Judy,
a song she knew well because Connee Boswell's rendition
of it was among Tempie's favorites. Ella quickly quieted
the audience, and by the song's end they were demanding
an encore. She obliged and sang the flip side of the Boswell
Sister's record, The Object
of My Affections.
Offstage, and away from people she knew well, Ella was
shy and reserved. She was self-conscious about her appearance,
and for a while even doubted the extent of her abilities.
Onstage, however, Ella was surprised to find she had no
fear. She felt at home in the spotlight.
"Once up there, I felt the acceptance and love from
my audience," said Ella. "I knew I wanted to
sing before people the rest of my life."
In the band that night was saxophonist and arranger Benny
Carter. Impressed with her natural talent, he began introducing
Ella to people who could help launch her career. In the
process he and Ella became lifelong friends, often working
together.
Fueled by enthusiastic supporters, Ella began entering
- and winning - every talent show she could find. In January
1935 she won the chance to perform for a week with the
Tiny Bradshaw band at the Harlem Opera House. It was there
that Ella first met drummer and bandleader Chick Webb.
Although her voice impressed him, Chick had already hired
male singer Charlie Linton for the band. He offered Ella
the opportunity to test with his band when they played
a dance at Yale University. "If they kids like her,"
said Chick, "she stays." Despite the tough crowd,
Ella was a major success, and Chick hired her to travel
with the band for $12.50 a week.
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