When the Queen of Jazz came to Glasgow WHEN Ella Fitzgerald sang on a Glasgow stage in April, 1964, she was already the queen of jazz. This classy singer held the audience in the palm of her hand at the Odeon theatre that spring evening – and yet, twelve years earlier, her debut in the city had been an entirely different experience. This was not only her first Scottish performance, it was also her UK debut, having had to change her plans at the last minute. Instead of performing at the London Palladium (which had instead extended its run of a show featuring Hollywood star Betty Hutton) Ella was on her way to the Glasgow Empire to appear in a variety show with the Nicholas Brothers dance team and a comedian.