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Preface

I became a fan of Ella's music not long after 'discovering' Frank Sinatra. I had been an desirous Beatles' fan as a teen child, and treasured music. One eve - I was 11 years old at the time - my parent said, "You've been attentive to your music, I privation to perceive to one of my records" and she contend one of the two Sinatra albums she possessed, "Songs for Swingin' Lovers!". I can evoke the precise, humour moment: it was once I detected the course "You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me" and the glorious Nelson Riddle system that curved me. I hungrily started to pass all my purse wake on my new text display. Initially Sinatra recordings and, about by osmosis, albums by Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Peggy Lee, Count Basie and Carmen McRae too. But that was newly the creation.

How Ella Fitzgerald Changed My Life

My first-ever meeting to a most important talk public presentation was in 1973 to see Duke Ellington activity at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh. My second was on April 11th 1974 to see Ella Fitzgerald at The Apollo in Glasgow. (Prior to that, my lonesome exposure to wind concerts was on box and once, once my father had interpreted me to see Carol Kidd a twosome of old age before once she had a balanced gig at The Lorne Hotel, as well in Glasgow. And I bear in mind vividly sitting at the aft of the room, thinking how very good it must be to interpret near a leash.)

The concert not one and only featured the excessive vocalizer - she was hardbound by the Tommy Flanagan Trio and Roy Eldridge and Eddie Lockjaw Davis guested. The repertory was captured on the album issued as "Ella in London" transcribed by the BBC at Ronnie Scott's.

My selection of Sinatra LPs had grown to in heavy-handedness of one hundred, whilst my Ella library numbered in the region of 20 together with her up-to-the-minute rescue for the newly-formed Pablo marker. Norman Granz, who had sold his well-respected Verve sticky label to MGM in the ripe 1960s, auctioned his set of Picassos to fund his new marker which, suitably, was titled after the creator. It was a lavishly boxed, 3-record set, appropriate "Jazz at the Santa Monica Civic" and also featured the Count Basie and his Orchestra, Stan Getz, Ray Brown, Harry Edison, Oscar Peterson and the afore-mentioned Eldridge and Davis. Quite a dash up. And boy, did I performance it terminated and over and done with... So the hypothesis of, vindicatory a yr later, seeing Ella in public presentation was implausibly lively.

My father's then-partner, Margaret, and two of her family were related us. And I bring to mind her saying, "Maybe we could come upon her afterwards" and my parent replying that the thought was somewhat ridiculous! It was a large observation in that it sowed the kernel that maybe, rightful maybe, one could have the opportunity to gather round Ella Fitzgerald!

Ella was in afloat form, although, judgement from on stage recordings made in 1974, her sound was harsher. Surprisingly, this rougher border to her sound was individual to this selective interval of her business. Her feeling for the addressees and the heat she got from much one and all in the auditorium was palpable. It was a howling eve that I bear in mind intelligent as I nigh the locus would loiter beside me always.

A time period went by and I publication near large excitement that Ella was reverting to Scotland to dramatic play The Usher Hall in Edinburgh on November 2nd 1975 near Count Basie and his Orchestra. She was to act two shows. I was one of the basic into the engagement business establishment and bought tickets for all support. The 6.30pm concert in the body part gallery, instantly aft the time (and where on earth I had been a business of 3 or 4 feet from the serious man and his device). The adjacent viewing saved me in the row second from the front, midway section. I was all set.

I can't remember truthfully once I mental object about annoying to touch Ella. But roughly a period of time back the concerts, I ready-made a mind. I was active to call in the scene and verbalize to the manager, interrogative if I could be allowed pay for section to bestow her flowers.

One eve the hebdomad anterior to the concert, fully clad in my new (read: first-year) suit, I did basically that. In discourse of where on earth I was at that time - iv old age of reflective absenteeism, undersupplied passion and self-esteem, cardinal months out of school, ready to be admitted to a medical specialty element - I standing don't moderately know where on earth I got the fasciculus or, no pun intended, dash to be so focussed!

There was a concert attractive point and I recollect anyone understood to assemble the manager, and I explained what I hoped he could relief me do. He was put on ice to say the least; after I'd aforesaid my piece, he said, "I'll be fixed a catalogue of every person who gets aft point. If you're on the record you'll get wager on stage, if you're not..." and beside that, he shrugged his shoulders and walked away. His colleague, who had introduced me, looked at me apologetically, and said, "Listen, she'll be present for a sound check on Sunday about 1.30pm - you should only just intermission for her at the Stage Door". So, that became the approach.

One xxx ultimo midday, Sunday November 2nd 1975 found me at the correct spot, clutching the 20 chromatic roses I'd purchased the day earlier (this was semipermanent up to that time Sunday space was trivial). Mum had, predictably - and caringly, well-tried to let me fluff helpfully by monitory me that at hand would be large indefinite amount of populace who want to just her, so I wasn't to be unsuccessful if you don't get close to her. Curiously, my female parent - who was inadvertently the individual who introduced me to Sinatra, Ella and the others in that variety - didn't poverty to bring up my present of a mark for the Fitzgerald-Basie concert.

Standing there, waiting, clicking my heels. Pacing a smaller. Looking at my watch... 1.50pm and no portent of anyone, let alone Miss Fitzgerald. A car appears. The manipulator gets out and asks me who the flowers are for. I transmit him, and he informs me that he is her chauffeur and he doesn't have to pool her until 5.30pm; she wasn't active to be in the lobby for a clamour cheque. "But," he added, "she's having dejeuner in the Caledonian Hotel - go and spring the flowers there; they be passionate about that sort of thing". I wasn't so convinced. It was one entity ready and waiting at a stage door, and fairly other to make inroads. Something later made me modification my mind: it started to drizzle, and it was superficial as still a waterspout was on not far trailing.

So I walked the 200 yards or so from the Usher Hall to just underneath one of the eminent construction windows of the Caledonian Hotel's cagey feeding freedom. And, yes, nearby she was: Ella Fitzgerald, having dejeuner with her hindmost to the windowpane. Her road manager, Tony Edwards, who worked for MAM, the cast manual labor the tour, saw me and told Ella who past inside-out around, saw me erect near flowers and ready-made a characteristic for me to come in.

Almost on auto-pilot I brightly walked through with the hotel foyer, into the dining area where on earth the full Basie belt were feeding. The Maitre d' proven to block me to ask where on earth I was heading but I purely stormed passed him! Ella was wonderful; incredibly style and civilly accepted my flower arrangement and asked me if she could present me a replicate of her new medium. She asked which performance I was upcoming to and, once I aforementioned both, she solicited me stern display place betwixt shows. Ironically, my oldest thought was not: I've met Ella Fitzgerald, but rather, it was the certainty that I had ready-made it on to "the list"!

Needless to say, I was on fog 9. I went familial and told Mum, who I regard wondered if I was exaggerating, what had happened. Then posterior to the Usher Hall to income my space. Little did I agnize it was a casing of "the most advantageous was yet to come!"

The Basie company swung look-alike lone the Basie belt can. Then, Ella near Basie. I hark back to "Sweet Georgia Brown" and "Them There Eyes" and "Mr Paganini". Then she herb beside her trio: Tommy Flanagan, Keeter Betts and Bobby Durham, followed by a stimulating increasing next to the heavy leash over again. Thanking Count Basie and the orchestra, she later recognised the members of the Tommy Flanagan Trio. And consequently it came: "And I'd likewise resembling to convey a boyish fan who gave me flowers faster nowadays. I haven't been able to see you - are you here?"

I replied in a category of stunned, modest way, "Yes". Being in the organ audience trailing the stage, the side by side point I knew was a wild limelight superior on me. Ella continued, "Do you worry if I intone him a song?" and she headed towards me, but the mike rope wouldn't stretch, so Ella asked me to come in on stand near her!

Knees quivering - virtually - and near oblivious to the 2,000 grouping commendation as I walked towards her. Tommy Flanagan started playing, and Ella herb the Stevie Wonder classic, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life"...

As I oriented rear to my seat, I bear in mind an invigorating crash from the audience, and Ella commenting, "Wasn't that sweet; he spent his minor breadstuff on me once he could've worn-out it on Elton John!"

Someone tapped me on the body part as Ella was melodious her crucial digit. It was whatever human or collaborator of the Evening Newspaper writer, John Gibson, who desirable to see me for an interrogatory. I told the blighter I wasn't going anyplace other than to see Ella, so he scribbled fallen the journalist's number and asked me to name him the side by side day. After the display ended, I call up male person listeners members pleased at me as I ready-made my way support chapter.

There was a katzenjammer active on as I was ushered through to Ella's dressing room. I upset in the region of and, status in advanced of me, was Count Basie. He smiled, and aforementioned howdy. Why is it at present suchlike these, do lines only just go wrong people? I fitting Count Basie and all I can do is grin at him! Taken into see Ella, she was consumption discordant citrus juice and ingestion more than a few dainty, triangular, crust-cut-off sandwiches. (Now that I perform, I know how esurient one can go after a gala.)

We chatted shortly... I got a few brief sentences out, mentioning how untold I likable her "Jazz at the Santa Monica Civic" rite which I had brought along to ask her to autograph, which she did: "Thank you so exceptionally a great deal. Fondly, Ella Fitzgerald." I same how I wished I could sing out and transport delight to nation. She said, "Well, if you got a voice, you go for it!" (It would filch a simple fraction of a century for me to fully embezzle her advice, but as least I can facial expression rear and regard as... Ella Fitzgerald told me to go for it!)

Walking wager on to the major auditorium, I passed long-time Basie belt bough and horn actor extraordinaire, Eric Dixon, who congratulated me on man on-stage with Ella. "That's a bang-up wring subject matter - should be price ten bucks at least!"

The 2d performance of range was completed all-too-soon. She smiled at me a few times, and even unified my identify during "Mr Paganini". What a night!

I met the Evening News correspondent the close morning who, of course, saw a catch once he saved out I was a "searcher of records" (legal documents). Wrong records, however, but he wrote a safe pocketable piece. Scotsman observer of the day, Conrad Wilson, was slightly more than scathing referring to my clash beside the First Lady of Jazz as "a schmalzy episode, but it was worthy it for the song!"

I cognize photos were understood but, to this day, I've never seen one. Ironically, specified his line of work in local relations, my father never pursued his contacts in the tabloid planetary to course lint a touch changeable for biological group.

Three life later, and I was final in the psychiatrist's stool. The doctor of medicine was swaying to and fro on one of the cr and basket weave wicker Bauhaus-style chairs that seemed, at the time, to be a Habitat creativity. "And what have you been up to this week?" he said, in a a bit perfunctory posture. "Well, on Sunday, I was on chapter next to Ella Fitzgerald," I replied. He much vicious off his chair! Initially, I am definite he musing that I'd broken. But after he realised it was true, and that was the closing instance I ever went to a psychiatrist.

It took me more than than twenty geezerhood for me to yield Ella's counsel to "go for it" but after my first-ever behaviour in laypeople in 2001, I started my relatively fast pavement to decorous a executive player. In 2003, I was engaged to start for Dionne Warwick during her UK journeying which prompted me to contribute up my day job and, as the inanity goes, I have ne'er looked posterior.