Role

:

Performer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

March 27, 1924 in Newark, NJ

Death

:

April 3, 1990 in Los Angeles, CA

Genre

:

Vocal

 

Sarah Vaughan was born on March 27, 1924, in Newark, New Jersey. She was the daughter of Asbury and Ada Vaughan, who were both amateur musicians. Her father played the guitar and her mother sang in the church choir. Sarah grew up in a musical household and began singing in the church choir at the age of seven. Sarah's talent was evident from a young age, and she began taking piano lessons at the age of seven. She also sang in the school choir and performed in local talent shows. Her parents encouraged her musical pursuits and often took her to see live performances. In 1942, Sarah won an amateur singing contest at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. This led to her being discovered by bandleader Earl Hines, who hired her as a singer in his band. Sarah toured with Hines for several years, honing her skills as a performer and developing her unique vocal style. In 1944, Sarah recorded her first solo album, "Lover Man," which featured the hit song of the same name. The album was a commercial success and established Sarah as a rising star in the world of jazz. Over the next few years, Sarah continued to record and perform, collaborating with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and Miles Davis. She also began to develop a reputation as a master of scat singing, a vocal technique that involves improvising nonsense syllables over a melody. In 1954, Sarah signed with Mercury Records and released the album "Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown." The album was a critical and commercial success, featuring some of Sarah's most iconic performances, including "Lullaby of Birdland" and "April in Paris." Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Sarah continued to record and perform, earning a reputation as one of the greatest jazz singers of all time. She won four Grammy Awards, including Best Jazz Vocal Performance for her album "Gershwin Live!" in 1983. In addition to her success as a recording artist, Sarah was also a popular live performer. She toured extensively throughout her career, performing at some of the world's most prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. Sarah's personal life was marked by both triumphs and tragedies. She was married and divorced four times and had a daughter, Deborah, with her second husband, George Treadwell. Deborah later became Sarah's manager and helped to guide her career. In 1989, Sarah was diagnosed with lung cancer. She continued to perform and record despite her illness, and her final album, "Brazilian Romance," was released in 1987. Sarah passed away on April 3, 1990, at the age of 66. Sarah Vaughan's legacy as a musician and performer is undeniable. She was a trailblazer for women in jazz and a master of her craft. Her unique vocal style and innovative approach to scat singing continue to inspire generations of musicians and fans alike.

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