Vaughan, Sarah (Sarah Lois Vaughan), 1924–90, American jazz singer, b. Newark, N.J. Nicknamed "Sassie," she studied piano and organ, began singing in her church choir, and won (1942) the famous amateur contest at Harlem's Apollo Theater. Subsequently, she sang with bands led by Earl "Fatha" Hines, Hines, Earl "Fatha" (Earl Kenneth Hines) (fä`thə), 1903–83, American jazz pianist, b. Duquesne, Pa.
..... Click the link for more information. Billy Eckstine, and John Kirby. During this period she was also associated with Dizzy Gillespie Gillespie, Dizzy (John Birks Gillespie) (gəlĕs`pē), 1917–93, American jazz musician and composer, b. Cheraw, S.C.
..... Click the link for more information. and Charlie Parker, Parker, Charlie "Bird" (Charles Christopher Parker, Jr.), 1920–55, American musician and composer, b. Kansas City, Kans. He began playing alto saxophone in 1933, and after shifting from one band to another he met Dizzy Gillespie in New York City.
..... Click the link for more information. learning much from their bop horn stylings. From 1947 on, Vaughan worked as a soloist, becoming one of jazz's finest vocalists. An alto who moved easily from honeyed to harsh, she had a huge range and a finely controlled vibrato, and was acclaimed for her performance of such songs as "Lover Man," "It's Magic," and "Misty." An active recording artist from the mid-1940s on, she frequently (1950s–80s) toured the United States and Europe.

Bibliography

See biographies by L. Gourse (1993) and M. Ruuth (1994); discography by D. Brown (1991).

Vaughan, Sarah (Lois)

Sarah Vaughan.

(born March 27, 1924, Newark, N.J., U.S.—died April 3, 1990, Hidden Hills, Calif.) U.S. jazz singer. Vaughan won an amateur contest at Harlem's Apollo Theatre in 1942 and soon joined Earl Hines's big band as vocalist and second pianist. Joining Billy Eckstine's band in 1944, she gained exposure to the new bebop style; she was especially influenced by Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker and recorded with them in 1945. Alternating between popular song and jazz, she worked as a soloist for the rest of her career. A vast range and wide vibrato in the service of her harmonic sensitivity enabled Vaughan to use her voice with a seemingly instrumental approach, often improvising as a jazz soloist.

Vaughan, Sarah (Lois) (1924–90) jazz vocalist; born in Newark, N.J. She began singing in church, won an Apollo Theatre talent contest in 1942, and was featured with Earl Hines from 1944 to 1945. Influenced by bebop and possessing operatic range, she emerged as an original stylist by the late 1940s and established a solo career as an internationally acclaimed artist thereafter.