Rare Photo of Ella Fitzgerald Goes On Display at Smithsonian

The National Portrait Gallery unveiled a stunning photograph of American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, often referred to as “The First Lady of Song,” on Thursday. At first glance it looks like just another image of the icon caught up in the melody of a song, but a closer look reveals a brief moment of discord between the players.

The picture was taken around 1947 by the late William Gottlieb, who learned to use a camera to take pictures to accompany his weekly music column for The Washington Post. The photograph shows Ella in performance with Ray Brown playing upright bass, while trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and vibraphonist Milt Jackson look on in wonder.

Ed Gottlieb recalls his father telling him the story behind that frame. Ella was actually in the audience to hear her then boyfriend Brown perform with his band but as expected, everyone wanted to hear her sing. Once she took the stage, Gottlieb got into position to…

Please read original article-Rare Photo of Ella Fitzgerald Goes On Display at Smithsonian