first jazz singers

Because jazz developed gradually from blues and ragtime, there is no single, universally agreed-upon "first" jazz singer. However, Louis Armstrong is often cited as a crucial pioneer who defined jazz singing, while early figures like Buddy Bolden (instrumentalist) are considered the first to play in a style that evolved into jazz.

how jazz started

Jazz originated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries within African-American communities in New Orleans, Louisiana, emerging from a rich mix of blues, ragtime, and marching band music. It combined African rhythms, spirituals, and call-and-response vocals with European harmonic influences, flourishing in the city’s cultural melting pot before spreading nationally by the 1920s.

these are some singers

WARNING!:no minimum age requirement to listen to

Born:April 25, 1917, Newport News, VA

Died: June 15, 1996 (age 79 years), Beverly Hills, CA

Real Name:Ella Jane Fitzgerald

music: jazz, swing, bebop, and traditional pop

WARNING!:no legal age restriction for listening to

Born:April 7, 1915, Philadelphia, PA

Died: July 17, 1959 (age 44 years), NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan, New York, NY

Real Name:Eleanora Fagan.

music: jazz and swing

WARNING!:no minimum age requirement to listen to

Born:March 27, 1924, Newark, NJ

Died: April 3, 1990 (age 66 years), Hidden Hills, CA

Real Name:Ella Jane Fitzgerald

music: jazz, swing, bebop, and traditional pop

Early life

Born on April 25, 1917, in Newport News, Virginia, Ella Fitzgerald had a challenging early life marked by poverty and tragedy. After her parents separated, she moved to Yonkers, New York, with her mother and stepfather, where she was a talented student who loved dancing and singing. Following her mother's sudden death in 1932, Fitzgerald faced immense hardship, including time in a reform school before finding her break in 1934.

Kid

Ray Brown Jr.

siblings

• Frances Da Silva

Musical Beginning

Musical Beginnings: Ella Fitzgerald: The First Lady Of Song - Civics For LifeElla Fitzgerald’s legendary musical career began on November 21, 1934, when she performed at Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York, at age 17. Originally planning to dance, she decided to sing at the last moment, winning the competition and launching a career that spanned over five decades.

End life

End life Ella Fitzgerald died at age 79 on June 15, 1996, at her Beverly Hills home, following years of declining health due to diabetes, which resulted in the amputation of her legs in 1994 and, ultimately, a stroke. She spent her final years in seclusion with her family but remained revered as the "First Lady of Song".

Overview

Ella Jane Fitzgerald was an American singer, composer, and songwriter who left a lasting mark on American culture. Known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Queen of Jazz", Fitzgerald was a Grammy Award-winning vocalist who sold more than 40 million albums. Her signature style included a wide vocal range, clear tone, and improvisational scat singing. Fitzgerald's career began in 1934 when she won a spot at the Apollo Theater's Amateur Night.

Early life

Born Eleanora Fagan on April 7, 1915, in Philadelphia and raised in Baltimore, Billie Holiday’s early life was marked by extreme poverty, abuse, and trauma. Raised mostly by relatives and her teenage mother, Sadie, she endured a difficult childhood, dropped out of school at age 11, and was sent to a reform school at age 9.

Kid

two godchildren: Bevan Dufty (son of William Dufty) and Billie Lorraine Feather (daughter of Leonard Feather)

siblings

• None generally recognized in standard biographies.

Musical Beginning

Musical Beginnings: Billie Holiday began her career in the early 1930s by singing in Harlem speakeasies, having pivoted from dancing to singing to secure work. Born Eleanora Fagan, she adopted the stage name "Billie Holiday" and was discovered by producer John Hammond, leading to her first recording session with Benny Goodman in 1933 at age 18.

End life

End life Billie Holiday died on July 17, 1959, at age 44 from cirrhosis of the liver and heart failure at Metropolitan Hospital in New York. Her final days were marked by severe illness, financial hardship, and controversy, as she was under arrest for drug possession and handcuffed to her hospital bed during her final days.

Overview

Billie Holiday, nicknamed “Lady Day” by her music partner Lester Young, was an American jazz and swing singer in the 1940s who influenced both jazz and pop music. Her innovative vocal style, inspired by jazz instrumentalists, pioneered a new way of handling tempo and phrasing. Holiday was also the first African American woman to perform with an all-white band. Born Eleanora Fagan Gough, Holiday had a difficult childhood in 1920s Baltimore.

Early life

Sarah Vaughan (March 27, 1924 – April 3, 1990) was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, where her upbringing was deeply rooted in the Baptist church and music. She developed into a prodigious pianist and church organist by age 12, fostering a rich voice and foundational musical knowledge that led to her win at the Apollo Theatre in 1942 at age 18.

Kid

Paris Vaughan

siblings

• None generally recognized in standard biographies.

Musical Beginning

Musical Beginnings: Sarah Vaughan’s musical career began with a foundation in church music and piano before she launched into jazz stardom by winning an amateur contest at the Apollo Theater in 1942 at age 18. Her early career was defined by work with big bands, specifically Earl Hines and Billy Eckstine, which positioned her at the forefront of the bebop movement.

End life

End life Legendary jazz singer Sarah Vaughan died of lung cancer at age 66 on April 3, 1990, at her home in Hidden Hills, California. Diagnosed in 1989, she spent her final months undergoing chemotherapy before choosing to spend her last days at home, where she passed away surrounded by family.

Overview

Sarah Lois Vaughan was an American jazz singer and pianist. Nicknamed "Sassy", "The Divine One", and the "Queen of Bebop", she won two Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, and was nominated for a total of nine Grammy Awards. She was given an NEA Jazz Masters Award in 1989.