Sarah Vaughan
“The Divine One, whose operatic range turned every ballad into architecture.”
In 1942, Sarah Vaughan won amateur night at Harlem's Apollo Theater singing 'Body and Soul,' a victory that launched her professional career. Within months she was opening for Ella Fitzgerald and was hired into Earl Hines' band.
Newark Roots
Born in Newark in 1924, Sarah Vaughan grew up singing and playing organ in church. A dare to enter the Apollo's amateur night in 1942 launched her toward a professional music career.
Bebop Pioneer
Joining the bands of Earl Hines and Billy Eckstine, Vaughan immersed herself in the new bebop sound alongside Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. Her flawless intonation and range set her apart.
The Divine One
Across four decades, Vaughan moved fluidly between jazz, pop, and standards, scoring hits from 'Tenderly' to 'Send in the Clowns.' Her Grammy-winning artistry made her one of the most revered voices in American music.
Career Timeline
- 1924Born in Newark, New Jersey
- 1942Wins Apollo Theater amateur night
- 1943Joins Earl Hines' orchestra
- 1944Sings with Billy Eckstine's bebop band
- 1947Records the standard 'Tenderly'
- 1948Hits with her version of 'Nature Boy'
- 1959'Broken Hearted Melody' becomes her first gold record
- 1974Records signature 'Send in the Clowns'
- 1982Wins Grammy for 'Gershwin Live!'
- 1990Dies of lung cancer in Hidden Hills, California
Biggest Hits
- Her astonishing vocal range and operatic control led musicians to nickname her 'The Divine One.'
- She was originally hired by Earl Hines as a pianist before her singing took center stage.
The Moment You Remember
She lingers over a single phrase of a ballad, bending the note through her vast range until the familiar melody seems newly carved. That command of tone and time, admired even by other singers, is why musicians simply called her the Divine One.
Portrait: William P. Gottlieb · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons