Ella Washington was born and raised in Miami, FL where she still makes her home as a
pastor. Her family background wasn’t a particularly musical one, although one of her sisters
was Audrey Royal who recorded briefly for Spector International in the 70s. Like so many
singers of her generation Ella started her career singing in local clubs and it was at one of
those, the Birdland, that she encountered two of Miami’s greatest soulmen, Clarence Reid
and Paul Kelly. Under their helpful guidance Ella began her path as a recording artist.