It isn't where you came from, its where you're going that counts.
I owe Marilyn Monroe a real debt … she personally called the owner of the Mocambo, and told him she wanted me booked immediately, and if he would do it, she would take a front table every night. She told him – and it was true, due to Marilyn’s superstar status – that the press would go wild. The owner said yes, and Marilyn was there, front table, every night. The press went overboard. After that, I never had to play a small jazz club again. She was an unusual woman – a little ahead of her times. And she didn’t know it.
Some kids in Italy call me 'Mama Jazz; I thought that was so cute. As long as they don't call me 'Grandma Jazz.'
I've had some wonderful love affairs and some that didn't work out. I don't want to dwell on that and I don't want to put people down, but I think all the fabulous places I've been, the wonderful things that have happened for me, the great people I've met - that ought to make a story.
I know I'm no glamour girl, and it's not easy for me to get up in front of a crowd of people. It used to bother me a lot, but now I've got it figured out that God gave me this talent to use, so I just stand there and sing.
When we were at the Apollo, Holiday was a block away. I asked her for her autograph.
The fabulous places I've been, wonderful things that've happened, great people I've met ought to make a story.
Sometimes when we're flying or in the hotel, I might run over songs, or in the bathroom.
[On bebop years] All I did was sing 'How High the Moon.' It seemed like the only song I ever sang.
Listen to her voice, don't look at her.
Ella knows her way around her voice as very few people today. But there are times when she seems to be unaware there are things the human voice just doesn't do. She does them.
She has been more famous, over a longer time span, than any other female singer.
Whatever she does to my songs, she always makes them sound better.
She is amazingly creative, bringing so much more to a song than just a singer. She is a first-class musician and the most gracious person in the world.
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