Ella Fitzgerald was the First Lady of Scat, a jazz singing style characterized by improvisation on the melody and lyrics. She was an American jazz singer and songwriter who was one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century. She was known for her scat singing, a style in which she improvised melodic lines using syllables instead of words. She was also known for her interpretations of the Great American Songbook. Her career spanned over 60 years and she won 13 Grammy Awards.