Ella Fitzgerald

Donnell Robinson, born in Warrenton, Virginia, discovered his passion for performance early, earning a reputation as a class clown with a flair for the dramatic arts. Though he experimented with drag in high school, it wasn’t until 1976 that he began performing professionally as a female illusionist at a D.C. bar. After trying several stage names, Robinson found his stride as Ella Fitzgerald, becoming a regular at The Rogue nightclub. In 1980, he rose to local prominence as host of D.C.’s longest-running drag revue at Ziegfeld’s Show Bar, where he performed for over two decades. Known for blending comedy, illusion, and melodrama, Robinson earned numerous accolades and became a beloved figure in Washington’s LGBTQ+ nightlife and entertainment scene.