Ella Fitzgerald

The Great Ella Fitzgerald singing her jazz version of “Old McDonald,” off of her children’s CD, “Miss Ella's Playhouse,” who was a Black American jazz singer who became world famous for the wide range and rare sweetness of her voice. She became an international legend during a career that spanned some six decades. Ms. Fitzgerald won 14 Grammy Awards during her singing career, including one for lifetime achievement. She also received a Kennedy Center Honor for lifetime achievement (1979) and the National Medal of Arts (1987). For more information on Ella's illustrious career visit

Miss Ella's Playhouse

Jazz and even vocal music can be a tough nut to crack for younger listeners, but Ella Fitzgerald's irrepressible enthusiasm and constant musicality make her a natural for children's listening. Accordingly, Universal packaged 11 of her lightest novelties into the brief Miss Ella's Playhouse, pitched to ages one to four and billed as "Kid, Parent & Earth Friendly." Leading off with the 1938 nursery rhyme hit "A-Tisket, A-Tasket," the disc makes a fair introduction for children to Ella specifically and great vocal jazz in general (regardless of the argument that children could appreciate her "serious" music without this set of dumbed-down material). The disc is divided between early Decca material of the nursery rhyme variety ("The Muffin Man," "Old Mother Hubbard") and peak-era Verve novelties like "Bean Bag Song," "Two Little Men and a Flying Saucer," and "The Hot Canary." Fans of the Great American Songbook may not be able to handle this type of material, but Ella Fitzgerald makes it all shine with a twinkle in her eyes, even when she's recording "Old McDonald" in 1966, nearing her half-century mark. ~ Barnes & Noble