Tuesday, April 1 2008

Musicians and audiences alike marveled at the ease with which Sarah Vaughan moved up and down her four-octave range, turning even the most mundane songs into operatic riffs. Her sound possessed a full-bodied purity, with an approach not unlike an instrumentalist. Early in her career, "Sassy" cut her teeth on bebop, performing with Billy Eckstine, Dizzy Gillespie, and Charlie Parker. She also ventured into the pop world, recording hits such as "Broken-hearted Melody," "Day-O," and "Send in the Clowns."