5 Facts About Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong’s First Recording Together

They first recorded together on August 16, 1956. The session took place in a Los Angeles studio and produced the album Ella and Louis.

The album was a collaboration of two jazz legends. Fitzgerald and Armstrong were already famous solo artists, and their duets became iconic.

The recording featured a small jazz combo. The backing band included Oscar Peterson on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Buddy Rich on drums.

The album focused on ballads and standards. Songs like “They Can’t Take That Away from Me” and “Summertime” highlighted their vocal chemistry.

This session launched a series of collaborations. They later recorded Ella and Louis Again and Porgy and Bess together.