NYC Celebrates Ella Fitzgerald's 100th Birthday
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- New York City is paying tribute to legendary jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald on the 100th anniversary of her birth.
Overlooking the city where "The First Lady of Song" gave both her first and last performance, Julie Menin, the Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, declared Tuesday "Ella Fitzgerald Day."
#EllaFitzgerald would have been 100. City honoring her with her own day, #TonyBennett donating print to her foundation. #1010WINS pic.twitter.com/SKH6ccmbfY
— Samantha Liebman (@SamiLiebman) April 25, 2017
On hand for the event at the Rainbow Room was another legend, Tony Bennett, who performed "Our Love Is Here to Stay" in honor of his late friend.
Celebrating Ella Fitzgerald's contributions to popular music at @RainbowRoomNYC #Ella100 pic.twitter.com/czjgqDkLV8
— NYC Mayor's Office of Media & Entertainment (MOME) (@MadeinNY) April 25, 2017
"She was just a beautiful human being and so talented," Bennett said. "No one sang better than that. She was just one of a kind and she was adored by every musician in the world."
#TonyBennett singing at ceremony for #EllaFitzgerald day in #NYC. pic.twitter.com/4UbwtyV6XJ
— Samantha Liebman (@SamiLiebman) April 25, 2017
Students from the Sinatra School of the Arts, founded by Bennett, also sang at the ceremony.
"Ella Fitzgerald she is the definition of being an original female singer, and her originality inspired the rest of us to go for our dreams," one student said.
Fitzgerald died in 1996 at age 79.