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Sarah Vaughan music biography continued...

began singing as a child in her church choir. After winning an amateur contest at Harlem's famed Apollo Theatre in 1942, she was hired as a singer and second pianist by the Earl Hines Orchestra. A year later she joined the singer Billy Eckstine's band, where she met Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, and wrapped her three-octave range around their daring instrumentals and bop sound to establish herself as the nation's preeminent young jazz singer. Afterward, she moved to the Columbia label as soloist, and during the five years that marked her rise to solo stardom (1949-54), she came out with several pop hits, including "That Lucky Old Sun", "Make Believe (You Are Glad When You're Sorry)", "I'm Crazy to Love You" and "Our Very Own." She often recorded with studio orchestras and only once in a jazz context (with Miles Davis in 1950). A new contract with Mercury (1954-9) allowed her to pursue a dual career: for Mercury she made commercial discs, while for EmArcy, Mercury's jazz subsidiary, she recorded with Clifford Brown, Cannonball Adderley, the sidemen of Count Basie's orchestra, and other jazz musicians. During this time, the hits continued with such entries as "How Important Can It Be" (with Count Basie), "Whatever Lola Wants" and "Misty". Her commercial success peaked in 1959 with "Broken Hearted Melody," which became her first gold record and a regular part of her repertoire for years to come.



Vaughan would go on to record for several more record labels, including Roulette (1960-64), back with Mercury (1963-67), Mainstream (1971-74), and Pablo (1977-1982). As one critic put it: "Through the years, Vaughan's voice deepened a bit, but never lost its power, flexibility or range. She was a masterful scat singer and was able to out-swing nearly everyone (except for Ella)." A tireless live performer, Vaughan gave concerts into the late 80s, when she started to noticeably slow down. In 1989, The National Endowment for the Arts bestowed upon her its highest honor in jazz, the NEA Jazz Masters Award. A few months later Vaughan died of lung cancer, leaving behind a brilliant and enduring legacy.