The Divine One: A Journey Through Sarah Vaughan’s Timeless Jazz Legacy
Sarah Vaughan, one of the most influential voices in jazz, began her career in her mid-20s after spending the 1940s singing in New York nightclubs and establishing connections with the American jazz elite. Her first singles were released as early as 1946, with one of her most iconic tracks, Black Coffee (1949), becoming a lasting staple of her career.
The 1950s and 1960s were Vaughan’s most prolific decades, during which she released 35 studio albums. Her self-titled debut album in 1950 featured classics such as Nice Work If You Can Get It and Ain’t Misbehavin’, both of which were jazz standards even then.
The 1950s saw Vaughan record a series of timeless tracks like Over the Rainbow, Lullaby of Birdland, and April in Paris (1955). The album Swingin’ Easy (1957) included several standards, including All of Me, They Can’t Take That Away From Me, and Pennies From Heaven. Notably, it also featured Body and Soul, a tune Vaughan performed to win her first talent show, which led to her opening for Ella Fitzgerald at the Apollo in 1942.
Other highlights from the 1950s include The Man I Love, Summertime, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, and Cheek to Cheek (1958). In 1959, Vaughan released Misty, a song originally recorded by Johnny Mathis and later made famous by Ella Fitzgerald.
As the 1960s rolled in, Vaughan continued her string of jazz standards with songs like Have You Met Miss Jones?, Stormy Weather (1960), My Favorite Things, and In a Sentimental Mood (1961). In 1962, she recorded Maria from West Side Story, as well as Stella by Starlight, Baby Won’t You Please Come Home, and Fly Me to the Moon.
Vaughan’s impressive output continued through the 1960s, with albums featuring both jazz standards and some notable Beatles covers. In 1965, she recorded Moon River, and by 1966, she began interpreting Beatles songs, with Michelle and Yesterday among her highlights. The year 1967 brought us classics such as Alfie, Danny Boy, and Take the “A” Train.
The 1970s saw Vaughan exploring more Beatles tunes with covers of Imagine, Blackbird, Come Together, and Get Back. Though these recordings were made in 1977, many were not released until 1981. Additionally, Vaughan tackled songs by other major artists, recording If Not For You by Bob Dylan (1971) and Alone Again Naturally by Gilbert O’Sullivan (1972).
One of her most notable recordings in the 1980s was her version of the classic Autumn Leaves, which she finally recorded in 1982 for the album Crazy and Mixed Up. In the following decades, Vaughan primarily released live albums, compilations, and greatest hits collections, maintaining her status as one of jazz’s most revered vocalists.
Sarah Vaughan’s career spanned decades, and her voice remains as captivating today as it was when she first began recording. With her incredible range, emotional depth, and unmatched interpretative skill, Vaughan remains one of the greatest jazz artists to ever grace the stage.
Sarah Vaughan Tunes | Related Pages
All Of Me | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play All Of Me by Frank Sinatra (and Billie Holiday) using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Bbmaj7 | Bbmaj7 | D7 | D7 |
All of me, why not take all of me…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: All Of Me (the Real Book) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Autumn Leaves | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn how to play Autumn Leaves by Chet Baker using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, and the original recording.
| Am7 | D7 | Gmaj7 | Cmaj7 |
The falling leaves drift by my window…
Baby Won’t You Please Come Home | Chords + TAB
Learn how to play Baby Won’t You Please Come Home by Clarence Williams using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, and a Spytunes video guitar lesson.
| D7 | B7 | Em7 | A7 |
Baby won’t you please come home, ’cause your mama’s all alone…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Baby Won’t You Please Come Home (Bessie Smith) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Blackbird | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Blackbird by The Beatles using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, chord analysis, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| 3/4 G Am7 G/B | 4/4 G |
Blackbird singing in the dead of night…
Start learning with the full lesson series: Blackbird – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
Come Together | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Come Together by The Beatles using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Dm | Dm |
Here come old flat top, he come grooving up slowly…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Come Together (The Beatles) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Fly Me To The Moon | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Fly Me To The Moon by Frank Sinatra using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Am7 | Dm7 | G7 | Cmaj7 |
Fly me to the moon, let me play among the stars…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Fly Me To The Moon (Frank Sinatra) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Get Back | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn how to play Get Back by The Beatles using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, chord analysis, and the original recording.
| A5 (A6) | A5 (A6 A7) | D7 (D6) | A5 (A6 A7) |
Jojo was a man who thought he was a loner, but he knew it couldn’t last…
Misty | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Misty by Ella Fitzgerald using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Bbmaj7 | Fm7 Bb7 | Ebmaj7 |
Look at me, I’m as helpless as a kitten up a tree…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Misty. (Ella Fitzgerald) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
My Funny Valentine | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play My Funny Valentine by Chet Baker using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, the original recording, a chord chart, and cover versions.
| Cm | Cmmaj7 | Cm7 | Cm6 |
My funny Valentine, sweet comic Valentine…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: My Funny Valentine (the Real Book) Guitar Lesson with TAB and chord analysis.
Over The Rainbow | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Over The Rainbow by Eva Cassidy using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, chord analysis, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| Gsus2 /F# | Em /D | Bm7b13 | G7 Amadd4 /B |
Somewhere over the rainbow…
Start learning with the full lesson series: Over The Rainbow – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
Summertime | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Summertime by Billie Holiday using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Bbm7 F7b9/C | Db6 F7b9/C | Bbm7 F7b9/C | Db6 F7b9/C |
Summertime and the living is easy…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Summertime (Billie Holiday) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Sarah Vaughan on the web
