"First Lady of Song": Fitzgerald, who used to solicit autographs from her jazz heroes Chick Webb and Billie Holiday in Harlem, won at the Apollo's Amateur Night and later found herself performing with those heroes. She performed at the Apollo until an audition for drummer Chick Webb in 1935 provided the break she needed. Here, circa 1938, she sings with Webb's band.

This picture is by artists Marvin and Morgan Smith; for more about the brothers, check times for the documentary For Posterity's Sake on the MetroLearning Channel.

Photo: M & M Smith, courtesy ITVS