Ella Fitzgerald was an American jazz singer and songwriter who was known as the 'First Lady of Song' and the 'Queen of Jazz'. She was a major influence on jazz and popular music in the 20th century, and is remembered for her scat singing. Fitzgerald was born in Virginia in 1917 and rose to fame in the 1930s with her hit song 'A-Tisket, A-Tasket'. She went on to record over 200 albums and won 13 Grammy Awards. Fitzgerald was also known for her collaborations with other jazz greats such as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. Her career spanned five decades and she was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996.