Celebrating Ella Fitzgerald

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Freda Payne, best known for her worldwide Top 10 smash "Band Of Gold," grew up listening to Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, which inspired her growing interest in music. While still in school, she began her singing career with commercial jingles in her hometown of Detroit, Michigan. Her polished voice caught the attention of music executives and she was wooed with contracts from the likes of Berry Gordy and Duke Ellington, but her mother wanted her to finish school first. After she did, the legendary Pearl Bailey gave Freda her first professional job which led to her sharing the stage with other legends such as Sammy Davis Jr., Billy Eckstine, Bill Cosby and many others. Freda toured with Quincy Jones during his big band era; performing at the world famous Apollo in New York and the Regal in Chicago, among others. Soon after, she recorded the album When The Lights Go Down for Impulse Records and How Do You Say I Don't Love You Anymore, for MGM.

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