Ella Fitzgerald Tribute Kicks Off Black Music Month

Though there are literally hundreds of African-American performing artists who could represent the rich palette of song during Black Music Month, Ella Fitzgerald makes a perfect ambassador. Considered one of the unsurpassed masters of 20th century music, the Newport News, Virginia, native, who died in 1996 at the age of 79, was the first African American to win a Grammy Award at its inaugural ceremony, in 1958. Not only did this giant of jazz and pop song gather up 13 Grammys throughout her storied career, she was bestowed the National Medal of Art by President Ronald Reagan, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George H.W. Bush.

Earlier this month, her longtime label, Verve Records, released 'We All Love Ella,' a new collection of Fitzgerald favorites sung by a well-rounded list of pop, jazz, blues and R&B talents, including Chaka Khan, Natalie Cole, Queen Latifah, Gladys Knight, Michael Buble, k.d. lang and Etta James. Flip through these photos of singers who pay tribute to the vocalist known worldwide as the First Lady of Song on the album.

In addition, complete your Black Music Month experience by counting down this list of the best album covers in black music, and take this James Brown quiz, which asks, "How well do you know the Godfather of Soul?"