2. Ella Fitzgerald was the First Woman to Win Amateur Night
Ella Fitzgerald made her singing debut at The Apollo in 1934 during Amateur Night. On a dare from two friends, she signed up to go on stage as a dancer. But when she saw that the popular dance duo The Edwards Sisters were going on stage right before her, she changed her act, and decided to sing instead. She won $25, and recorded with Decca Records the following year. She was 17.