Sarah Vaughan life and biography

Sarah Vaughan: The Voice of Jazz

Sarah Lois Vaughan was an American jazz singer, described by Scott Yanow as having "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century."

Nicknamed "Sailor" (for her salty speech), "Sassy" and "The Divine One", Sarah Vaughan was a Grammy Award winner. The National Endowment for the Arts bestowed upon her its "highest honor in jazz", the NEA Jazz Masters Award, in 1989.

The Divine One

Sarah Lois Vaughan, hailed as one of the greatest vocalists of the 20th century by music critic Scott Yanow, was an American jazz singer whose mesmerizing voice captivated audiences worldwide. Born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1924, Vaughan's early years were steeped in music, with both her parents sharing a love for making music in their spare time. Vaughan's prodigious talent and innate musicality became evident at a young age, as she honed her skills as a singer and pianist.

Nicknamed "Sailor," "Sassy," and "The Divine One," Sarah Vaughan's richly expressive voice held the jazz world in thrall for more than four decades. Vaughan's recordings and live performances conveyed a physical delight in singing as well as an artist's sensitivity to the complicated harmonies and rhythms of modern jazz. Despite facing the challenges of bigotry and discrimination as a black performer, Vaughan's unwavering determination and artistic integrity propelled her to the forefront of the jazz scene.

The Jazz Pioneer

Sarah Vaughan's career began in earnest when, at the age of eighteen, she entered an amateur contest at Harlem's Apollo Theatre on a friend's dare. She won the contest with a jazz rendition of "Body and Soul," earning a week's engagement at the Apollo and catching the attention of Billy Eckstine, a young singer with the Earl Hines Orchestra. Eckstine persuaded Hines to hire Vaughan, and her career was launched. She had her professional debut on April 23, 1943, as a singer and second pianist for Hines.

The following year, Billy Eckstine formed his own band, and Vaughan joined him. Through Eckstine's mentorship, Vaughan encountered jazz pioneers like Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, who had a profound influence on her style. It was Gillespie who landed Vaughan her first solo recording contracts, and together they cut "Lover Man," her first song to receive national attention.

A Legacy of Innovation

Vaughan's refusal to conform to commercial pressures and her commitment to artistic excellence set her apart as a true trailblazer in the world of jazz. From her groundbreaking solo recordings to her collaborations with jazz luminaries, Vaughan's influence on the genre was profound and enduring. Her repertoire encompassed a diverse range of styles, from bebop to pop, earning her chart-topping hits and widespread acclaim.

In 1953, Vaughan signed with Mercury Records and embarked on a short but successful pop career. By 1959, she had made the Billboard charts with songs like "C'est la Vie," "Mr. Wonderful," and the million-selling "Broken-Hearted Melody." Despite her commercial success, Vaughan remained true to her artistic vision, always striving to create music that resonated with her soul and connected with her audience on a profound level.

A Timeless Legacy

Sarah Vaughan's impact on the world of jazz continues to resonate to this day, with her recordings enshrined in the Grammy Hall of Fame as enduring treasures of musical history. Her unparalleled talent, unwavering dedication, and pioneering spirit have cemented her legacy as one of the most influential and beloved figures in jazz history.

As Vaughan once remarked, "All the stars are in heaven," but her luminous legacy continues to shine brightly, inspiring generations of musicians and music lovers alike.

Awards and honors of Sarah Vaughan:

The album Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown and the single "If You Could See Me Now" were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, an award established in 1973 to honor recordings that are at least twenty-five years old and have "qualitative or historical significance."[30] In 1985 she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 1988 she was inducted into the American Jazz Hall of Fame.

In 1978, she was given an Honorary Doctorate of Music by Berklee College of Music.

In 2012, she was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. In 2004–2006, New Jersey Transit paid tribute to Vaughan in the design of its Newark Light Rail stations. Passengers stopping at any station on this line can read the lyrics to "Body and Soul" along the edge of the station platform.

She was given the George and Ira Gershwin Award for Lifetime Musical Achievement at the UCLA Spring Sing.

In 2003, San Francisco and Berkeley, California, made by proclamations March 27 Sarah Lois Vaughan Day.

Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition
The James Moody Jazz Festival hosts an annual jazz vocalist competition named for Vaughan. The Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition is also known as the SASSY Awards for Vaughan's nickname.

List of selective works from Sarah Vaughan:

-After Hours Columbia.
-Copacabana Pablo.
-The Divine One Roulette.
-The Divine Sarah Musicraft.
-Duke Ellington Song Book One Pablo.
-Duke Ellington Song Book Two Pablo.
-Echoes of an Era Roulette.
-Feelin' Good Mainstream.
-Golden Hits Mercury.
-How Long Has This Been Going On? Pablo.
-I Love Brazil! Pablo.
-In the Land of Hi-Fi Emarcy.
-Live Mercury.
-Live in Japan Mainstream.
-More from Japan Live Mainstream.
-My Kinda Love Emarcy.
-Sarah Vaughan Emarcy.
-Sarah Vaughan: Volume One Archive of Folk Music.
-Sarah Vaughan: Volume Two Archive of Folk Music.
-Sarah Vaughan: Volume Three Archive of Folk Music.
-Send in the Clowns Pablo.
-Swingin' Easy Emarcy.
-Time in My Life Mainstream.

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