Singer. She is remembered for being a talented jazz singer receiving four Grammy Awards including the "Lifetime Achievement Award" in 1989. She received an Emmy Award in 1981 for a tribute to American composer and songwriter of the early twentieth century, George Gershwin. With her wide range of three octaves and perfectly controlled vibrato voice, she could effortlessly sing with her rich gifted voice anything that she desired. Born Sarah Lois Vaughan, her parents were amateur musicians along with having “day jobs” to support the family. As many singers, she started in her local church while learning to play the piano at home. Her first step toward becoming a professional singer was taken at a talent contest held at Harlem's Apollo Theater in 1942. Winning the contest singing “Body and Soul”, she received a ten-dollar bill and a week's engagement at the Apollo. This followed with being hired as a singer and second pianist by the Earl Hines Orchestra. Within a year she joined the Billy Eckstine's Band, where she met Dizzy Gillepie and Charlie Parker, who were considered excellent jazz musicians. In the late 1940's, she appeared on TV variety shows; by 1953, she had signed a contract with Mercury Record Corporation for the EmArcy, and in the early 1950's her audience grew after she toured Europe and the United States. She also appeared in three films: in 1951 “Disc Jockey” and in 1956 “Jazz Festival” and “Basin Street Revue”. In the 1960's she sang frequently in the White House for President Johnson, who was a devoted fan. She loved world travel and when her performance scheduled slowed, she traveled, singing and partying into the night. Even into the 1980's, she always performed at the top venues to a sellout audience. Her career lasted nearly fifty years and she encourage many up-and-coming singers such as Anita Baker and Mel Torme. She often referred to as “Sassy,” “The Velvet Fox” or “Divine One”. In 1990 she was inducted into the Jazz Hall Fame. She was married three times, adopted a daughter, and died with the diagnosis of lung cancer. She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording on July 31, 1985, at 1724 Vine Street. She was honored with a commemorative postage stamp that was released on March 29, 2016. Today, her voice is often compared to Ella Fitzgerald's, yet their amazing voices were as different as apples and oranges. The two did perform together at least once. Fitzgerald admitted publicly that Vaughan, “was the world's greatest singing talent”. Sarah Vaughan was a very talented woman who had a long, successful career.