10 Famous Jazz Singers
Though styles have come and gone and instruments have ebbed and flowed in their popularity (while new ones are always being created), the jazz singer, the man or woman with the voice, has always been a mainstay of the genre. See below for a list of 10 Famous Jazz Singers.
As former About.com Jazz Guide Jacob Teicherow said: "Jazz singer Lena Horne was primarily known for being one of the first black performers to be signed with a major film studio in Hollywood, and for her elegant and alluring big screen persona."
She was much more, of course. Horne was an enduring personality in the jazz world who performed until she was in her early 80s.
Read a full profile of Lena Horne.More »
The singer know as "Sassy" was an 18-year old amateur singer who performed "Body And Soul" at the Apollo Theater in the Fall Of 1942. Though the exact story of how she came under the guidance of Earl "Fatha" Hines is oft-disputed, her remarkable voice and inimitable has never be questioned.
Read a full profile of Sarah Vaughan.More »
Considered one of the innovators of vocalese, wherein voices replace instruments within an arrangement, Jon Hendricks was once dubbed "The Poet Laureate of Jazz" by the famed critic Leonard Feather. Most famous his association with the trio, "Lambert, Hendricks and Ross," Hendricks most recently appeared in the documentary, "No One But Me."
Read a full profile of Jon Hendricks.More »
One of the original pop stars, Frank Sinatra was also a talented jazz stylist who surrounded himself with talented people and had an ear for great songs.
Read a full profile of Duke Ellington.More »
Over the course of his short career, Johnny Hartman appeared on more than two dozen albums, most of which highlighted his smokey baritone and his unusual finesse at the art of balladry. Though he didn't achieve great notoriety while he was alive, there has been a renaissance of interest in his music over the past several years, particularly his album with John Coltrane.
Read a full profile of Johnny Hartman.More »
What can be said about one of the most influential voices in all of jazz? She lived to be just 44 years old and recorded just 12 studio albums her unique voice and ability to interpret the deepest reaches of a song are stuff of legend.
Read a full profile of Billie Holiday.More »
Perhaps it was her background as a dancer that made her such a brilliant interpreter of the jazz music's subtle rhythms. Or maybe she just had a gift like no other.
Read a full profile of Ella Fitzgerald.More »
Over the course of her 80 years, Anna Marie Wooldridge was a singer, actress and composer who became one of the most beloved jazz performers in the world under the moniker of Abbey Lincoln.
Read a full profile of Abbey Lincoln.More »
During the 1950s and 1960s, there were few jazz singers who were as popular as Nat King Cole. Though he started out as a piano trio artist, it was his voice that became him identifying talent.
Read a full profile of Nat King Cole.More »
Eighty-seven years old and still performer, Tony Bennett is one of the enduring legends of jazz singing.
Read a full profile of Tony Bennett.More »
1. Lena Horne
As former About.com Jazz Guide Jacob Teicherow said: "Jazz singer Lena Horne was primarily known for being one of the first black performers to be signed with a major film studio in Hollywood, and for her elegant and alluring big screen persona."
She was much more, of course. Horne was an enduring personality in the jazz world who performed until she was in her early 80s.
Read a full profile of Lena Horne.More »
2. Sarah Vaughan
The singer know as "Sassy" was an 18-year old amateur singer who performed "Body And Soul" at the Apollo Theater in the Fall Of 1942. Though the exact story of how she came under the guidance of Earl "Fatha" Hines is oft-disputed, her remarkable voice and inimitable has never be questioned.
Read a full profile of Sarah Vaughan.More »
3. Jon Hendricks
Considered one of the innovators of vocalese, wherein voices replace instruments within an arrangement, Jon Hendricks was once dubbed "The Poet Laureate of Jazz" by the famed critic Leonard Feather. Most famous his association with the trio, "Lambert, Hendricks and Ross," Hendricks most recently appeared in the documentary, "No One But Me."
Read a full profile of Jon Hendricks.More »
4. Frank Sinatra
One of the original pop stars, Frank Sinatra was also a talented jazz stylist who surrounded himself with talented people and had an ear for great songs.
Read a full profile of Duke Ellington.More »
5. Johnny Hartman
Over the course of his short career, Johnny Hartman appeared on more than two dozen albums, most of which highlighted his smokey baritone and his unusual finesse at the art of balladry. Though he didn't achieve great notoriety while he was alive, there has been a renaissance of interest in his music over the past several years, particularly his album with John Coltrane.
Read a full profile of Johnny Hartman.More »
6. Billie Holiday
What can be said about one of the most influential voices in all of jazz? She lived to be just 44 years old and recorded just 12 studio albums her unique voice and ability to interpret the deepest reaches of a song are stuff of legend.
Read a full profile of Billie Holiday.More »
7. Ella Fitzgerald
Perhaps it was her background as a dancer that made her such a brilliant interpreter of the jazz music's subtle rhythms. Or maybe she just had a gift like no other.
Read a full profile of Ella Fitzgerald.More »
8. Abbey Lincoln
Over the course of her 80 years, Anna Marie Wooldridge was a singer, actress and composer who became one of the most beloved jazz performers in the world under the moniker of Abbey Lincoln.
Read a full profile of Abbey Lincoln.More »
9. Nat King Cole
During the 1950s and 1960s, there were few jazz singers who were as popular as Nat King Cole. Though he started out as a piano trio artist, it was his voice that became him identifying talent.
Read a full profile of Nat King Cole.More »
10. Eddie Palmieri
Eighty-seven years old and still performer, Tony Bennett is one of the enduring legends of jazz singing.
Read a full profile of Tony Bennett.More »
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