Ella Fitzgerald and the Melody of Dreams, Diane Richards

Ella Fitzgerald and the Melody of Dreams by Diane Richards paints a deeply human and often painful portrait of a young Ella Fitzgerald — long before the fame, before the stage, before the world knew her name.

Raised in poverty, abandoned by her family, and caught in the harsh system for so-called “incorrigible girls,” Ella survives on the streets, in orphanages, and in juvenile institutions. Her only refuge — and her only way forward — is music.

When her life seems at its most hopeless, fate leads her to the legendary Apollo Theater. There, despite fear and uncertainty, she finds the courage to sing — and with a single performance, changes the course of her life.

Born in Newport News, Virginia, and raised in Yonkers, New York, Ella Fitzgerald (1917–1996), often called “The First Lady of Song,” would go on to become one of the most beloved and influential jazz artists of all time. Her voice — described as crystalline, warm, and endlessly flexible — helped redefine what vocal performance could be.

Over the course of her career, Ella won 13 Grammy Awards and received more than 40 nominations. In a telling moment of her legacy, Marilyn Monroe personally insisted that Ella be booked to perform at a nightclub where Black artists had previously been excluded — a decision that helped break barriers in the industry.

Beyond jazz, Ella performed ballads, gospel, blues, and even operatic pieces. She is especially celebrated for her Songbook Series, interpreting classics by composers such as George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart.

She also founded the Ella Fitzgerald Foundation, supporting education and medical care for children. Despite serious health challenges later in life, including diabetes and amputations, she continued performing into the late 1980s — remaining a cherished figure for audiences around the world.

Ella Fitzgerald and the Melody of Dreams also marks a turning point for Diane Richards, as it is her literary debut. As she shares:

“The novel focuses on Ella’s early years, as she comes of age during one of the most difficult periods in American history. She was determined to make something of herself, and I placed that determination at the heart of the story. So many artists don’t succeed. But this brilliant Black woman did. She stayed true to her dream of becoming a performer and refused to be broken by the relentless, ordinary hardships of life.”

Richards also reflects on her personal connection to Fitzgerald:

“I grew up in Milwaukee in the 1960s and 70s, and from where I stood, it seemed like she was doing the impossible — performing alongside figures like Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Marilyn Monroe, even singing with Louis Armstrong. I could identify with her — her effortless grace and charm made me believe I could become someone like her. A Black woman in elegant clothes, moving through refined spaces, seen as worthy of admiration and significance. That was the life I wanted.”