National Press Club Headliner Event With Grammy Award-Winning Jazz Singer Patti Austin Pays Tribute to 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Jazz Legend Ella Fitzgerald, 5 p.m., April 27

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Grammy Award-winning jazz singer Patti Austin, who has won acclaim for her interpretation of the music of Ella Fitzgerald, will discuss the importance of jazz to American culture and diplomacy and perform some of Fitzgerald's music at a special 5 p.m. National Press Club Headliner event in the club's Fourth Estate Restaurant.

This year marks the 100^th Anniversary of the birth of jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald who is widely known for songs such as "Dream a Little Dream of Me", "Cheek to Cheek", "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall", and "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)". In addition to her performances on stage and film, Fitzgerald is remembered for her trips around the globe on State Department-sponsored jazz tours in the 50's and 60's. A resolution honoring Fitzgerald will be introduced in Congress the week of April 24.

In her long career, which began in the 50's at the age of 4 on the Apollo Theater stage, Austin has worked closely with artists such as Quincy Jones and Harry Belafonte. In 2002, she recorded a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, "For Ella".  Fitzgerald died in 1996 at age 79.

Beyond her touring and recording schedule, Austin has been involved in projects to boost voter registration and sang and appeared in the recent Academy Award-winning film documentary 20 Feet from Stardom.

Press Contact:
Lindsay Underwood
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SOURCE National Press Club