c) Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald, known as the “First Lady of Song,” was a key figure in American jazz, renowned for her pure, flexible voice and her ability to improvise, particularly in her scat singing. Starting her career in 1934, Fitzgerald’s remarkable vocal range and interpretative ability allowed her to master various genres, from swing to bebop, ballads to gospel. Over her career, she won 13 Grammy awards and sold over 40 million albums. Her collaborations with other jazz legends like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington further cemented her status. Fitzgerald’s contributions to jazz and her role as a trailblazer for African American female artists have left a lasting impact on the music industry and American culture.