Ed Sullivan was one of the most important music impresario’s of the 20th Century.
The list of music icons from every genre to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show includes Buddy Holly, BB King, Ella Fitzgerald, Elvis Presley, James Brown, Johnny Cash, Louis Armstrong, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and the list goes on.
Sullivan defied pressure to exclude black entertainers or to avoid interacting with them on screen. “Sullivan had to fend off his hard-won sponsor, Ford’s Lincoln dealers, after kissing Pearl Bailey on the cheek and daring to shake Nat King Cole’s hand.”
His famous tag line was — “Tonight, we have a real big show.” And it always was.
He is pictures here with Ella Fitzgerald and a man who looks in profile like Bill Robinson.
Ed Sullivan was an early supporter, and had her as a guest on the fifth episode of The Ed Sullivan Show. On July 18, 1948, the television audience was introduced to the charismatic jazz singer. Ed partnered her with vaudeville legend Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. As Ella scatted, Robinson tap-danced. This was an early example of Ed’s attempt to bring vaudeville to television, and to have something for everyone. Ella said in an interview about Ed, “His was one of the first shows that gave everybody a chance to be seen, and heard. And that was like a new beginning.”
The last of Fitzgerald’s eight appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show was on November 23rd 1969. She stepped onstage wearing a shimmering red dress and sang, “You Better Love Me” and “Open Your Window.” Miss Fitzgerald said about Ed: “I think it was like what almost everybody felt. They trusted him. They believed in him. And I guess we loved him. And thank you for what you’ve done for me.