your humble beginnings in yonkers new york ella just 15 when our mother died fled her abusive stepfather dropped out of school and lived on the streets of foreign. intervention 34 at the age of 17 ella got her big break at the legendary apollo amateurs night talent show. rather than dance she decided to sing big band leader and drummer chick webb became a protective figure as he fostered her exceptional talent. when she started out with chick webb the chick singer up front with the band was supposed to be. beautiful dress and the guy sit in the chair sing her a little chorus in the middle of the song get up and sit down well from the very beginning she didn't sit down she. got up and waved her arms and interacted with the musicians as if she were the conductor and told chick that she wanted to learn how to jam with the boys in the band. and she's lending him to speak like one of the you know instruments in the band she might jump in sing with the trombones or play in a with the sax a play and with the trumpets you know she just had that ability everything by ear. she thought he brought m