In the mid 1950's Marilyn Monroe personally intervened to ensure that Ella Fitzgerald became the first black person to play the famous Mocambo Club in Hollywood . Despite having never met the singer she was a huge fan. Marilyn promised to visit the club and sit front row every night if the owner made the booking. Later, Ella Fitzgerald said she never had to play a small jazz club again and she owed Marilyn a great debt.
The incident has been turned into a play by Bonnie Greer and she joins Jenni to talk about it.
Bonnie Greer's play Marilyn and Ella Backstage at the Macambo is on Radio 4 Friday 16 December at 9pm.
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