Jazz is one of the fields where female artists exiled and flourished. With their unique, beautiful voices and stunning personalities, jazz vocalists won’t grow old. Ever since jazz was born in the African-American region of New Orleans, Louisiana, US, it has been continually dominating the music world. It is characterized by swing and blue notes, call and response vocals, complex chords, and polyrhythms. Read on to find these greatest female jazz vocalists to cherish their talents and songs. Test your knowledge with our latest quiz on ‘first ladies of jazz’ and see how well you do.
Best Ladies of Jazz
Do you know these greatest female vocalists? From Ella Fitzgerald to Billie Holiday, we have put together the great women of Jazz who set high standards in the music world.
Ella Fitzgerald
Who Was Nicknamed
- A. Peggy Lee
- B. Sarah Lois Vaughan
- C. Dinah Washington
- D. Peggy Lee
Ella Fitzgerald was a pioneer of Jazz. Her contribution helped revolutionize the genre. She became famous after her performance in New York’s Apollo Theater, in 1934, and received the first prize in an amateur talent competition. She could improvise her voice into a bebop horn player. She is also known as the Queen of Jazz, First Lady of Song, or ol’ Lady Ella. Earlier, she was a part of drummer Chick Webb’s band.
Billie Holiday
She was famous as an American jazz and swing music singer. She was also recognized as one of the greatest singers from the 1930s to the ’50s. She was called ‘Lady Day’ and is well known for her innovative influence on jazz music and pop singing. She knew how to communicate with a song. Her songs are extremely soulful quality and poignantly autobiographical.
Dinah Washington
Dinah Washington was a renowned American jazz singer as well as a pianist. She holds the record of popular black female recording artist of the 1950s songs. Her popular works range from blues, traditional pop music, R&B. She called herself “Queen of the Blues”.
Sarah Lois Vaughan
Another popular American jazz singer is Sarah Lois Vaughan. Her nickname was The Divine One, Sassy. She bagged four Grammy Awards including the Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1989, she received the NEA Jazz Masters Award.
Peggy Lee
With her alluring tone, breadth of material, and wonderful songwriting skills, Peggy Lee soon became the most captivating artist of the era. Over her seven-decade career, she introduced many famous songs. She also was a part of the band during the 40s before going solo.