Fun Fact About "A-Tisket, A-Tasket”

“A-Tisket, A-Tasket” is a popular rhyme first recorded in America way back 1879. It was used as the basis of the song that made Ella Fitzgerald famous. She and AL Feldman, who was later known as Van Alexander, wrote the most retarded song. Before her major breakthrough, she joined an amateur contest at the age of 15 at the Apollo Theater in New York. She entered as a dancer but ended up singing Hoagy Carmichael’s “Judy” and Pinky Tomlin/Jimmie Grier tune “Object of My Affection” because of the influence of the Edward Sisters’ amazing performance.

She won the said amateur contest. Not long after that, she was invited by Chick Webb to be the vocalist of his band, the Chick Webb Orchestra. The band regularly performed at Harlem’s Savoy Nightclub. She started her solo career in 1942 when AL Feldman died. Moe Gale, the co-founder of Savoy Nightclub became her manager. She then transferred under Norman Granz’s management for the rest of her career. He founded Verve Records to produce Fitzgerald’s new records. Her well-known interpretations of the Great American Songbook was also recorded under Verve Records.

The popular rhyme is about the story of a little girl who had lost her little yellow basket. However, the words Tisket-Tasket doesn’t have a specific meaning. It was just formed by kids while playing a game. The game was sung while children danced in a circle. One of the numbers ran on the outside of the circle and dropped a handkerchief. The nearest child would then pick it up and chase the dropper. If the dropper is caught, he/she either was kissed, joined the circle, or had to tell the name of their sweetheart

The song was a big success that it reached the first rank in Billboard's sheet music and Record Buying Guide (jukebox) charts. The song appeared on some films like We Want Our Mummy and The Grapes of Wrath. Ella Fitzgerald performed the song herself in the Abbott and Costello film, Ride 'Em Cowboy.