Ella Fitzgerald -- It's Regrettable That Singer's Talent Wasn't Focus Of Story

On June 15, I was driving and listening to the radio. I was ecstatic to hear three Ella Fitzgerald songs in a row, live versions I had never heard before, then the scatting masterpiece, "Cottontail." National Public Radio's Terry Gross ended the set and said, "We are paying tribute to the late Ella Fitzgerald. Ella died this afternoon at her home in California."

I stopped my car and tears sprang to my eyes immediately. What I thought about was Ella. I thought about Ella singing the songs that captured every emotion and dilemma I have ever experienced - from "Undecided" to "You're learnin' the blues" to "Cry me a river" and hundreds of others. I thought about how Ella could make my heart ache with the subtlest phrasing, and how she could make my spirit soar with her multi-octave control and her incredible command of swing.

What I didn't think about was whether she seemed "old-fashioned" or "not so `relevant' " as Paul de Barros wrote in his June 16 article. I would suggest that Mr. de Barros listen to the words next time. Another thing that I didn't think about was whether she was a "looker" or height-weight proportionate, or as Mr. de Barros wrote, "portly." Who cares? When Louis Armstrong passed away, did columnists temper their praise of the Satchmo's phenomenal trumpeting with a testimony of his physical appearance and poundage? Why is it that talented women are noted for not being thin or universally sexy while talented men are seen for what they are: talented. The New York Times referred to Ella as "hefty and unglamorous." I find it appalling that columnists find such a shallow and ridiculous observation worth mentioning.

It is equally regrettable that The Times couldn't find a writer who was more jazz-literate to write an article about America's First Lady of Song on the day after her death, a day that signified the end of an amazing and inspirational life - the life of one of jazz music's most prolific and loved singers.

Erika Kleinman Seattle