Born Denise Eileen Garrett in Memphis, Tennessee, she grew up in Flint, Michigan. Her father, Matthew Garrett, was a jazz trumpeter and teacher at Manassas High School, and through his playing, Denise was exposed to jazz early on. At the age of sixteen, she was a member of a rock and rhythm'n'blues trio, singing in clubs in Michigan. At 18, she studied at Michigan State University before she went to the University of Illinois. With their jazz band, she toured the Soviet Union in 1969. The next year, she met trumpeter Cecil Bridgewater, and after their marriage, they moved to New York City, where Cecil played in Horace Silver's band.
In 1971, Dee Dee Bridgewater joined the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra as the lead vocalist. The next years marked the beginning of her jazz career, and she performed with many of the great jazz musicians of the time, such as Sonny Rollins, Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Max Roach, and others. In 1974, her first own album, entitled Afro Blue, appeared, and she also performed on Broadway in the musical The Wiz. For her role as Glinda the Good Witch she won a Tony Award in 1975 as "best-featured actress", and the musical also won the 1976 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.
She subsequently appeared in several other stage productions. After touring France in 1984 with the musical Sophisticated Ladies, she moved to Paris in 1986. The same year saw her in Lady Day as Billie Holliday, for which role she was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, she returned from the world of musical to jazz. She performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1990, and four years later, she finally collaborated with Horace Silver, whom she had admired for a long time, and released the album Love and Peace: A Tribute to Horace Silver. Her 1997 tribute album Dear Ella won her the 1998 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album, and the 1998 album Live at Yoshi's was also worth a Grammy nomination. She has also explored on This is New the songs of Kurt Weill, and, on her latest album J'ai Deux Amours, the French Classics.
Dee Dee Bridgewater is the first American to be inducted to the Haut Conseil de la Francophonie. She has received the Award of Arts and Letters in France.
Dee Dee Bridgewater is mother to three children, Tulani Bridgewater (from her marriage to Cecil Bridgewater), China Moses (from her marriage to theater, film and television director Gilbert Moses) and Gabriel Durand (from her current marriage to French concert promoter Jean-Marie Durand).
Dear Ella
Dee Dee Bridgewater Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Our Special First Lady of Song
You gave your best for so long
This is true
Dear Ella we're all so glad
You answered the call
For it is certain that your music
Your blessing to all
Dear Ella
The soul in your songs
And heart we can feel
Such feeling, emotion
Such beauty of phrase
Each time
You brought joy to so many
With sounds of the music sublime
You started so early and
Made it so fun
With hard work and talent
You became number one
With your bearing so regal
Your voice strong and true
You gave us a standard
Met only by a few
Dear Ella
We'll always remember
Your love and good will
We treasure the place
In our hearts that you fill
We love you
We thank you
For all that you are
Ella... in our hearts
You are a true
Shining star...
Dear Ella.
The song “Dear Ella,” beautifully written by Dee Dee Bridgewater, is a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, who is considered by many as the First Lady of Song. The song is a celebration of the life and accomplishments of Ella Fitzgerald and it speaks to her character and the significant role she played in the music industry. In the opening lines, Bridgewater acknowledges Ella as the special First Lady of Song who gave her best for so long, and reminds listeners that this is a fact.
The song goes on to thank Ella for answering the call, pointing out that her music will always remain relevant and stand tall. Bridgewater acknowledges the soul in Ella’s songs, the heart, feeling, and emotion embedded in them, and the beauty of phrase with which they were delivered. She notes that each time Ella performed, she brought joy to so many, with her sounds of sublime music. In the chorus, Bridgewater highlights Ella's hard work and talent, how she made it so fun, and how she became number one, with a bearing so regal, and a voice so strong and true.
Overall, “Dear Ella” is more than just a tribute to one of the most significant performers of the 20th century, it is a celebration of Ella Fitzgerald’s music and the incredible impact she had on the music industry. Ella’s music spoke to people, cutting across racial, social, and cultural boundaries, as she sang like she meant every word. And the song “Dear Ella” captures all of that so beautifully.
Line by Line Meaning
Dear Ella
Addressing Ella Fitzgerald, expressing admiration and respect
Our Special First Lady of Song
Honoring Ella as a pioneer and leader in the music industry
You gave your best for so long
Recognizing Ella's tireless dedication to her art
Dear Ella we're all so glad
Expressing gratitude for Ella's contributions to music
You answered the call
Acknowledging Ella's decision to pursue music as a career
For it is certain that your music
Recognizing the impact that Ella's music has had on generations of listeners
Will always stand tall
Highlighting the enduring quality of Ella's music
Your blessing to all
Describing Ella as a gift to the world of music
The soul in your songs
Praising the depth and emotion that Ella infused into her music
And heart we can feel
Acknowledging the emotional connection that Ella's music creates with listeners
Such feeling, emotion
Further elaborating on Ella's ability to convey emotion through her music
Such beauty of phrase
Complimenting Ella's lyrical and melodic sense
Each time
Emphasizing the consistency of Ella's musical excellence
You brought joy to so many
Describing the positive impact that Ella's music had on countless listeners
With sounds of the music sublime
Highlighting the quality of Ella's music and performances
You started so early and
Noting Ella's early start in the music industry
Made it so fun
Suggesting that Ella's career in music was also enjoyable for her
With hard work and talent
Acknowledging the effort and skill that Ella brought to her craft
You became number one
Recognizing Ella's status as a preeminent artist
With your bearing so regal
Commenting on Ella's dignified and elegant stage presence
Your voice strong and true
Praising Ella's powerful and authentic singing voice
You gave us a standard
Noting the high level of musical quality that Ella set for others to follow
Met only by a few
Recognizing that only a select few could achieve the level of excellence that Ella did
Dear Ella
Reiterating the opening address to Ella
We'll always remember
Promising that Ella's legacy will be enduring
Your love and good will
Praising Ella's positive and giving nature
We treasure the place
Valuing Ella's place in the hearts of many listeners
In our hearts that you fill
Describing Ella's profound impact on the emotional lives of her fans
We love you
Expressing affection and admiration for Ella
We thank you
Acknowledging Ella's contributions to music and expressing gratitude
For all that you are
Recognizing the totality of Ella as an artist and person
Ella... in our hearts
Affirming Ella's lasting influence on audiences
You are a true
Making a definitive declaration about Ella
Shining star...
Comparing Ella to a bright celestial body
Contributed by Muhammad B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Cecilio Curubeto
Merecido homenaje a esta grande que fue Ella,además una gran interpretación. Gracias por subir.
WhiteLotusPetal
Thanks for posting this. Wonderful Interpretation.
abby4410
The amazing Kenny Burrell on guitar .
Hech Rhymes
This song makes me cry. Too good!
Melody Sanger
HAPPY 67TH BIRTHDAY DENISE GARRETT "DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER" (MAY 26, 2017)