Another sad story for the world of music, jazz vocalist and four-time Grammy-nominee Ernestine Anderson died of natural causes in Shoreline, Wash. on Thursday. She was 87 years old.
As a famed jazz singer, Ms. Anderson maintained a career that spanned six decades. During her tenure as an international success, Ernestine performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival (1958) as well as the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall.
With a voice only to be described as "honey" by friend and producer Quincy Jones, Ms. Anderson also performed at Dwight D. Eisenhower's presidential inauguration and often played with a band led by Lionel Hampton and Johnny Otis.
Born in Houston to a construction worker and homemaker, Ernestine began singing in church at 3 years old. After winning a talent contest when she was 12, she began singing at Houston's Eldorado Ballroom once a week for nearly half a year.
Once her family moved to Seattle in 1944 and Ernestine turned 18, she left home to tour with Otis' band. In 1948 she would record "K.C. Lover/Good Lovin' Babe" and also marry for the first time.
Ms. Anderson moved constantly between L.A., New York and Europe. While in New York, she recorded with Jones, Russell Jacquet, tenor sax player Clifford "King" Solomon and many others.
Labeled by Time magazine as one of the "best-kept" jazz secrets" she released six albums on the Mercury Records label until her career started to decline in the '60s. She re-emerged briefly in the 1970s and recorded under the Concord Jazz label, releasing "Hello, Like Before" in '77 and a number of albums for the next two decades.
It's a most unfortunate loss to jazz and the music community at large. We extend our condolences to Ernestine Anderson's family and loved ones during this tragic time.
Be sure to remember her fondly with a video tribute below.
