American jazz singer and pianist, Sarah Vaughan was nominated for a total of nine Grammys during her career and was given an NEA Jazz Masters Award in 1989. Critic Scott Yanow wrote that she had "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century".
She was born in Newark, New Jersey, to Asbury "Jake" Vaughan, a carpenter by trade who played guitar and piano, and Ada Vaughan, a laundress who sang in the church choir. The family was active in New Mount Zion Baptist Church and Sarah began piano lessons at the age of seven and sang in the church choir. She developed an early love for pop music and frequently saw touring bands at the Montgomery Street Skating Rink. By her mid-teens, she ventured illegally into Newark's night clubs and performed as a pianist and singer at the Piccadilly Club and at Newark Airport.
On a trip to New York City in the fall of 1942, the then 18 year old Vaughan entered the Apollo Theater Amateur Night contest. She won a prize of $10 and the promise of a week's engagement at the venue. On November 20, she returned to open for Ella Fitzgerald. During her week of performances, Vaughan was introduced to bandleader and pianist Earl Hines and singer Billy Eckstine.
DISC ONE
1 Lullaby Of Birdland 4:06
2 April In Paris 6:26
3 He’s My Guy 4:17
4 Jim 5:56
5 You’re Not The Kind 4:48
6 Embraceable You 4:54
7 I’m Glad There Is You 5:14
8 September Song 5:50
9 It’s Crazy 5:01
10 Over The Eainbow 3:30
11 Soon 2:37
12 Cherokee 2:32
13 I’ll Never Smile Again 2:36
14 Don’t Be On The Outside 3:03
15 How High The Moon 2:38
16 It Shouldn’t Happen To A Dream 3:21
17 Sometimes I’m Happy 2:58
18 Maybe 2:35
19 An Occasional Man 2:33
20 Why Can’t I 2:56
21 Oh My 2:22
DISC TWO
1 Lush Life 4:04
2 I’m The Girl 2:59
3 Shake Down The Stairs 2:48
4 I’ve Got Some Crying To Do 2:53
5 My Romance 3:16
6 I Loved Him 3:22
7 Lonely Woman 3:02
8 The Masquerade Is Over 3:30
9 The Boy Next Door 2:55
10 Old Folks 3:15
11 Only You Can Say 3:01
12 A Sinner Kissed An Angel 3:39
13 Shulie A Bop 2:43
14 Lover Man 3:19
15 I Cried For You 1:43
16 Polka Dots And Moonbeams 2:37
17 All Of Me 3:18
18 Words Can’t Describe 4:36
19 Prelude to A Kiss 2:48
20 You Hit The Spot 3:03
21 Pennies From Heaven 3:08
22 If I Knew Then (What I Know Now) 2:34
23 Body And Soul 3:15
24 They Can’t Take That Away From Me 2:44
25 Linger Awhile 1:02
DISC THREE
1 Alexander’s Ragtime Band 4:03
2 Isn’t This A Lovely Day 3:54
3 I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm 4:14
4 All Of My Life 3:16
5 Cheek To Cheek 2:46
6 You’re Just In Love 3:44
7 Remember 2:21
8 Always 2:39
9 Easter Parade 3:16
10 The Girl That I Marry 3:00
11 Now It Can Be Told 3:44
12 Smoke Gets In Your Eyes 4:01
13 Doodlin’ 4:36
14 Darn That Dream 3:46
15 Just One Of Those Things 2:32
16 Moonlight In Vermont 3:22
17 No Count Blues 5:30
18 Cheek To Cheek 5:11
19 Stardust 3:19
20 Missing You 3:28
DISC FOUR
1 Please Be Kind 3:16
2 The Midnight Sun Will Never Set 2:51
3 Live For Love 3:23
4 Misty 3:03
5 I’m Lost 3:40
6 Love Me 3:13
7 That’s All 3:31
8 Day By Day 3:10
9 Gone With The Wind 3:28
10 I’ll Close My Eyes 3:40
11 The Thrill Is Gone 2:29
12 September In The Rain 3:34
13 Willow Weep For Me 5:17
14 Just One Of Those Things 3:14
15 Be Anything (But Be Mine) 4:52
16 Thou Swell 2:45
17 Stairway To The Stars 5:06
18 Honeysuckle Rose 3:38
19 Just A Gigolo 4:17
20 How High The Moon 2:53