Ella Fitzgerald’s postal stamp unveiled at ECSU
Kesha Williams
February 21, 2007
Officials from the local Post Office unveiled the latest Black Heritage stamp at Elizabeth City State University. The stamp features Grammy Award winning jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald is the 30th African-American featured on the Black Heritage postal stamp which salutes outstanding African-American activists, theorists, educators and leaders. The U.S. Postal Service released the stamp earlier in January, but cities across American are unveiling the new stamp for local stamp collectors and jazz fans. Fitzgerald’s fans remember her for a repertoire of ballads and jazz lead vocals for some of the most widely acclaimed orchestra’s in the world. The Newport News, Virginia native traveled around the world singing the songs that won her 13 Grammy awards and recognition for over 40 million albums sold. During her career, she sang with many of the music industry’s icons: Count Basie, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie and Bennie Goodman. The unveiling of a Black Heritage stamp was a history making event as the university welcomed Elizabeth City’s first African American postmaster, Ms. Kesha Holifield. The ECSU Jazz Ensemble provided selections of Fitzgerald’s music in celebration of the latest recognition reserved for "The First Lady of Song." Request the new stamp at local Post Offices while supplies last. Photo caption: Fans of Ella Fitzgerald are celebrating the release of the U.S. Postal Service’s latest addition to the Black Heritage commemorative stamps. Local officials unveiled the stamp at the K. E. White Graduate Center at Elizabeth City State University. Standing left to right: Elizabeth City Mayor Rev. Dr. Charles Foster Dr. Willie Gilchrist, interim chancellor Ms. Kesha Holifield, postmaster for Elizabeth City Mrs. Virginia Houston.