Sarah Vaughan

Sarah Vaughan
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Name	Sarah Vaughan
Birth date	March 27, 1924
Birth place	Newark, New Jersey, United States
Death date	April 3, 1990
Death place	Los Angeles, California
Genre	Jazz, Soul, Blues

Sarah Vaughan was a renowned American jazz singer known for her impressive vocal range and unique style, which was influenced by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Charlie Parker. Born in Newark, New Jersey, she began singing at a young age, performing at local New Jersey venues, including the Newark Symphony Hall and the Apollo Theater in Harlem. Her early life was marked by performances with notable musicians, such as Billy Eckstine and Dizzy Gillespie, at the Café Society in Greenwich Village. She was also inspired by the music of Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday.

● Early Life and Education

Sarah Vaughan was born to Asbury Vaughan and Ada Vaughan in Newark, New Jersey, and grew up in a musical family, with her father playing the guitar and her mother singing in the Newark church choir. She attended Newark Arts High School, where she studied piano and organ with Olga James, and later moved to New York City to pursue a career in music, performing at the Cotton Club and the Savoy Ballroom. Her early education was also influenced by the Juilliard School and the New England Conservatory of Music, although she did not attend either institution. She was also familiar with the music of Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith.

● Career

Sarah Vaughan's career spanned over four decades, during which she performed with numerous notable musicians, including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Thelonious Monk. She began her professional career singing with the Earl Hines band at the Regal Theater in Chicago, and later joined the Billy Eckstine band, performing at the Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C.. She also performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival and the Newport Jazz Festival, and collaborated with musicians such as Quincy Jones and George Gershwin. Her music was also influenced by the Bebop movement, led by Charlie Christian and Bud Powell.

● Music Style and Influences

Sarah Vaughan's music style was characterized by her impressive vocal range, which spanned over four octaves, and her unique ability to scat sing, similar to Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. Her influences included jazz musicians such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Charlie Parker, as well as blues singers like Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey. She was also influenced by the music of classical composers, such as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and pop singers like Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. Her music was also shaped by the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights Movement, with musicians like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston.

● Discography

Sarah Vaughan's discography includes numerous albums, such as Sarah Vaughan Sings and Swingin' Easy, which feature her unique interpretations of jazz standards and pop songs. She also recorded albums with notable musicians, including Miles Davis and John Coltrane, such as Miles & Coltrane and Live at the Village Vanguard. Her music was released on various labels, including RCA Records, Columbia Records, and Mercury Records, and she was also featured on the Verve Records label, founded by Norman Granz. She also performed with the New York Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

● Awards and Legacy

Throughout her career, Sarah Vaughan received numerous awards and accolades, including multiple Grammy Awards and a National Endowment for the Arts NEA Jazz Masters award. She was also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and the DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her legacy continues to inspire musicians, such as Diana Krall and Norah Jones, and her music remains popular, with albums like Sarah Vaughan Sings and Viva! Vaughan remaining in print. She was also honored by the Kennedy Center and the Library of Congress.

● Personal Life

Sarah Vaughan was married four times, to George Treadwell, George Hughes, Clyde Atkins, and Waymon Reed, and had one daughter, Debra Vaughan. She was also known for her fashion sense, often wearing designer clothing and jewelry on stage, and was a longtime resident of New Jersey and California. She performed at numerous venues, including the Hollywood Bowl and the Carnegie Hall, and was also a frequent guest on television shows, such as The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. She was also friends with musicians like Ray Charles and Sammy Davis Jr.. Category:American jazz singers