8 Black Celebrities Who Have Opened Up About Being Unhoused - Page 7

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7. Ella Fitzgerald

Portrait Of Ella Fitzgerald
Source: Heritage Images

The legendary singer left her home at an early age due to the death of her mother in 1932 and the abuse from her stepfather, that led her to flee to New York City to live with her aunt, per the Houston Symphony.

After dropping out of school, she was sent away to the New York State Training School for Girls with its horrid conditions and eventually ran away with no place to live. 

However, once she headed back to the streets of New York she began performing at local amateur nights at the Apollo Theater and band leader Chick Webb spotting and gave her the big break she was looking for.

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