NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Greenlight, the icon representation, merchandise licensing and rights clearance division of Branded Entertainment Network (BEN), has announced that Evolution USA, the Los Angeles based global brand management firm for the Ella Fitzgerald Estate, has appointed Greenlight to license the legendary jazz artist for advertising opportunities and future marketing campaigns. Ella Fitzgerald, also known as the First Lady of Song, is considered one of the greatest, most influential jazz singers of the 20th Century.
Ella launched her career in 1934 during Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater, where she became a household name and the first African-American female in history to lead a band. Ella then progressed to dominate the jazz landscape between the 1940s and 1960s and performed with some of the greatest musicians of the time including Louis Armstrong, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, and Irving Berlin, among others. Her unique voice was a signature sound of American jazz for more than 50 years, recording more than 2,000 songs, selling over 40 million albums and earning 13 Grammy awards throughout her musical career.
“Ella is one of America’s greatest treasures, who made her voice into a powerful beacon of strength and perseverance that helped her overcome her humble beginnings. She remains an inspirational icon, whose values and determination are as strong and relevant as ever,” said Travis J. Rutherford, Evolution USA’s Founder/Chief Revenue Officer. “We could think of no better partner than the Greenlight team to help us advance Ella’s image, especially in the current climate we live in. She was a civil rights activist at heart and would be overjoyed that brands are adopting her story to connect and inspire people.”
Ella’s legacy is a story of not only an amazingly gifted artist, but also that of humanitarian, civil rights leader, trailblazer, and optimist. She capitalized on her fame and talents to advocate for equality and social advancement. In 1993, she set up the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, permitting grants to disadvantaged children for music, education and health. She also actively supported various NGOs, including the American Heart Association, City of Hope and the Retina Foundation.
“At Greenlight, we are honored to be working with such a trailblazer of women’s empowerment to ensure her attributes and inspiring story are authentically interwoven with the most fitting brands,” said Tamra Knepfer, Senior Vice President of Greenlight. “Inspired by how Ella found and used her voice to overcome life’s obstacles, our work will further ensure that her amazing legacy will continue to live on, forever.”
About Greenlight
Greenlight, a division of Branded Entertainment Network (BEN), is the global leader in rights representation and rights clearances, providing turnkey solutions for top brands and advertising agencies worldwide. Greenlight represents some of the most iconic names in history including Albert Einstein, Steve McQueen, Sophia Loren, Thomas Edison, Martin Luther King, Jr., Marvin Gaye, Charlie Chaplin, and more. For more information, visit www.greenlightrights.com.
