BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: A look at this day in CNN history. A look at the life of Ella Fitzgerald.</s>BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, JUNE 1996) MEL TORME, SINGER: My reaction was one of terrible sorrow, terrible loss. I was very friendly with Ella, we were very close, and I must say that, in losing her, we have lost the preeminent jazz singer, but as well, a great singer of popular songs. She is really one of a kind.</s>JIM MORET, CNN ANCHOR: My memories of Ella Fitzgerald were that when she passed away, it was really like a musical era was lost forever. So many performers today, so many vocalists will point to Ella Fitzgerald as being the master of phrasing and feeling and singing and creating a mood. There are just a handful of artist who really epitomize what it is to be an artist, and musically Ella Fitzgerald is definitely in that category. Jazz singers today, clearly, ballad singers, vocalists will often include her on their list of most influential, most memorable, greatest. It's tough to make that list greatest, but Ella Fitzgerald was definitely on that list.
CNN 20: Ella Fitzgerald Dies, June 15, 1996