Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things

The great Ella Fitzgerald (1917–96) brought her singular voice to “The Great American Songbook” like no singer before her debut or after. Just One of Those Things traces her incredible life from the streets of Harlem and a momentous 1934 talent contest at the Apollo Theater to her many achievements as one of the 20th century’s most iconic performers. Blending archival footage with contemporary interviews featuring singers Smokey Robinson and Tony Bennett, swing dancer Norma Miller, and adopted son Ray Brown Jr.—plus a 1963 radio show in which the famously reserved Fitzgerald addresses the topic of race head-on—the film captures a triumphant story of perseverance against poverty, sexism, and racism. (90 mins., digital video)
​​​​​​​Closed captioning available

Join us for a Q&A on Sunday, June 28, at 7 PM ET /4 PM PT featuring producer Reggie Nadelson, renowned author and music critic Will Friedwald, Pultizer Prize–winning journalist Margo Jefferson, and singer/sax player Camille Thurman. The talk is available free with RSVP; register and learn more here.