Sarah Vaughn
Hugh Bell took this shot of the great "Sassy" Sarah Vaughn in Atlantic City in the 1950's. The jazz diva's impeccable intonation and lucid harmonic sensibility had already earned a solid following as the "girl singer" in Billy Ekstein's band in the 40's.
Fans adored Vaugh-Ekstein ballads, but didn't always understand or appreciate bebop or blues numbers such as the later renowned "Night In Tunisia," which featured both Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. Sarah recalled how the band would play at dances, only to have large portions of the audience stop and stare at the band when the fellas commenced to wailing "Salt Peanuts." "We were trying to educate them. And it took a while!" Sassy recounted. Frustrated at being overshadowed by the popular Ekstein, Sarah Vaughn broke out as a solo artist and enjoyed a long and illustrious career as a musical artist of the first water.
Writer Nancy Thompson