The quintessential difference between two Jazz Goddesses who actually lived at the same time,knew same people and even performed at the same stages was that Billie Holiday surrounded herself with aura of melancholy,drama and suffering while Ella Fitzgerald somehow reflected happiness and optimism. It showed in their music,although it must be admitted that roles could occasionally swap - Billie could do uptempo,happy songs and Ella would surprise you with yearning ballads. However,they are remembered as dark and sunny oposites.
Recent discoveries about Fitzgerald's early start in life enlighten us about her personality - we all know that she had won that fateful amateur night contest at the famous "Apollo" but years between death of her mother and "Apollo" are usually not mentioned whatsoever. It is almost as she was born that night at the "Apollo" and come to think of it,Ella herself liked to remember it that way - but reality was somehow different,as police records showed that after being shuffled between relatives,the child run off on the streets (probably not without a reason!) and was arrested & placed in the reformatory for period of two years,where girls were regularly tortured and beaten.
Fitzgerald herself never spoke about these years and though she was undoubtedly deeply traumatized with them,she never allowed inner demons to show in her work. Quite opposite to Holiday who created "suffering diva" personae but apparently was strong-willed and high-living person,sunny and happy Fitzgerald had her share of problems but kept them in check.
Nothing is what it seems!
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