S2E13-This week on GPE, we are saluting a CD collection that has never not been off the jazz charts since it was first released! "Ella: The Best of the Songbooks" was a Verve release produced by Michael Lang. He wanted someone knowledgeable to help pick the songs, sequence them and then write the album notes. That was me! I am so proud of the popularity of this CD that we are going to do two shows about it! This week is part one, and there truly is no one better to be your guide than I! PRE-RECORDED: Each week I will take you through some of Ella's greatest accomplishments. From award winning arrangements & compositions to Live performances and much much more. Ella Fitzgerald : Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996) was an American singer, songwriter and composer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, intonation, absolute pitch, and a "horn-like" improvisational ability, particularly in her scat singing Geoffrey Mark: Critics have called Geoffrey Mark a walking encyclopedia of show business history. Born in Brooklyn, NY and raised all over the country, Mr. Mark has spent his entire life in one part of show business or another. He has been appeared off-Broadway and in summer stock, been a singer and stand-up comedian in New York nightclubs and cabarets as well as on cruise ships, the proud recipient of an Emmy Award and a Grammy Award nomination, hosted two radio series in Los Angeles, writes comedy for several stand-up comedians, writes and produces documentaries and reality shows for cable television, as well as hosted two radio series of his own as well as several special programs on radio and television. Mr. Mark is also in demand as a performer in nightclubs, on cruise ships and for corporate events. Produced by B.K.Bartlett / benjamin.bartlett3 bartlett52108@gmail.com Geoffrey Mark / mrgeoffreymark / @geoffreymark1037 GPE is officially copywrited by Spettigue Productions in association with the following networks: Still Toking Productions Stilltoking.com & The Dorkening Podcast Networt / @thetokingdead / @thedorken