Legendary jazz vocalist Sarah Vaughn was loved and adored by millions of fans. She has sold books and records in the millions. Now, the postal service is honoring the singer who died in 1990 at the age of 66 is being honored with a new postage stamp. To coincide with the new stamp, Resonance Records will be releasing a 2-cd concert, with the cooperation of NPR entitled Sarah Vaughan-Live At Rosy's, New Orleans on March 25.
According to Downbeat online, "Shortly after the album release, the U.S. Postal Service will honor Vaughan's legacy by issuing a Commemorative Forever Stamp featuring her image. The ceremony will take place at the Sarah Vaughan Concert Hall at Newark Symphony Hall in New Jersey on March 29." As well, the ceremony will be attended by numerous luminaries from both the jazz. From Downbeat, we find the list includes, "The list includes, "...vocalist Tony Bennett, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Mount Zion Baptist Church Pastor Dr. Gloria White, Deputy Postmaster General Ronald Stroman and Grammy-winning actress Melba Moore."
The stamp is a forever stamp and wil be unveiled in March in the aforementioned ceremony in Newark, NJ. The image is an oil painting of Miss. Vaughn in performance circa 1955 and was made by artist Hugh Bell. According to Amsterdam News, "Vaughan was born in Newark in 1924. Her family lived on Brunswick Street and she attended East Side High School, later transferring to Newark Arts High School. She's best known for the songs "Misty," "Lullaby of Birdland" and "My Funny Valentine." Vaughan died in 1990 in Hidden Hills, Calif. at age 66."
One of the first ladies of jazz, Vaughn carved a niche, alongside ones like Nina Simone and Billie Holiday as powerful and bankable artists. They helped shape the direction of jazz from the vocal side of the equation. They paved the way for future arists like Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga and Beyonce.
