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Sarah Vaughan “Her voice, which has four octaves and out-classes that of most operatic sopranos, came in unequal parts, a rich middle section, a little-girl high register, and a sometimes vulgar, echoing bottom range. She uses it like a horn…” wrote Whitney Balliett, in New Yorker Magazine, July, 1977. Sarah Vaughan was one of the premier jazz singers of the 20th century. She was known for her expressive voice, unique vibrato, and outstanding vocal range. Her extraordinary virtuosity and range of appeal were shaped by a wide variety of musical influences. In “Sassy: The Life of Sarah Vaughan,” Leslie Gourse, the acclaimed biographer of Nat King Cole and Joe Williams, says that at the age seven Sarah Vaughan began her formal musical education inspired by her mother, Ada, who sang in the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, the town where Sarah was born. At home, her father, Asbury, filled many hours with music. He loved playing the piano and records. Gourse also says that Sarah joined her mother singing in the choir and started her musical education with piano and organ lessons. She continued her formal lessons during her term at East Side Music and Arts High School. At age 16, family and friends persuaded Sarah to enter the amateur show at the Apollo Theatre in New York City. She won. The prizes were $10.00 cash and a week’s engagement. Ella Fitzgerald was the artist appearing at the theatre when Sarah performed during her winning week. Ella was one of Sarah’s early inspirations and it was Sarah’s wish to one day record with Ella and do a TV special together.
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