Below are the women who most inspired
me to sing from an early age.
Judy Garland
The
American Film Institute named Judy 8th on the list of 'Greatest Female
Stars of All Time'. She was posthumously awarded the Grammy
Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. Several of her recordings have been inducted
into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Her concert at Carnegie Hall in New York on April
23,1961 is remembered as her most spectacular live performance,
called by many "the greatest night in show business history".
The 2- record 'Judy at Carnegie Hall' went gold, and spent 13 weeks
at number one. The album won five Grammy Awards including Album of
the Year and Best Female Vocal of the Year. The album has never been
out of print.
“Be a first
rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else”-
Judy Garland
"We
will all be forgotten — but not Judy." ~ Frank Sinatra
Ella Fitzgerald
Also
known as "Lady Ella" and the "First Lady of Song", Ella
was one of the most flawless and influential jazz singers
of the 20th Century.
She could sing across
three octaves, and was particularly admired for the pure tone of her voice,
her phrasing and intonation, and seemingly effortless improvisational
ability, especially in her scat singing. She is widely acclaimed as
being one of the most outstanding interpreters of 'The Great American Songbook'. Over
a recording career that lasted 57 years, she was the winner
of 13 Grammy Awards.
"The only thing better than singing
is more singing." - Ella Fitzgerald
"I didn't realize our songs were so
good until Ella sang them." - Ira Gershwin
Sarah Vaughan
An outspoken personality and artistic eloquence,
Sarah Vaughan was nick-named “Sassy” and “The Divine
One.” She was an accomplished pianist,who joined the 1940s
bebop movement becoming one of the most popular and favoured
vocalists with the Earl Hines and Billy Eckstine bands. Her vocal range
was exceptional, with total control from her lowest notes to a high
bat-squeak, and she could scat-sing with more originality than anyone in jazz.
She could also deliver ballads that squeezed every drop of emotion from a song.
Sophisticated musical sense, and horn-like phrasing brought Vaughan
million-selling hits and a stage and recording career that spanned half a century.
"There are notes between notes, you know.”
- Sarah Vaughan
Doris Day
Often remembered as the archetypal "girl next door",
Doris Day was one of the most popular singers and movie stars
of the 1940s, '50s and '60s. A much underrated jazz singer, she began her professional
singing career as a teenager with the Bob Crosby and Les Brown
big bands. Doris's pure tones could really swing, her
vocal talent made her a star even before Hollywood beckoned. Although her movie
career directed her onto lighter more commercial material,
her love of swing-era jazz would occasionally return her to recording some
excellent band numbers with Paul Weston and small group jazz sessions with Andre
Previn, Harry James and others.
“If it's true that men are such beasts,
this must account for the fact that most women
are animal lovers.”
The
American Film Institute named Judy 8th on the list of 'Greatest Female
Stars of All Time'. She was posthumously awarded the Grammy
Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. Several of her recordings have been inducted
into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Her concert at Carnegie Hall in New York on April
23,1961 is remembered as her most spectacular live performance,
called by many "the greatest night in show business history".
The 2- record 'Judy at Carnegie Hall' went gold, and spent 13 weeks
at number one. The album won five Grammy Awards including Album of
the Year and Best Female Vocal of the Year. The album has never been
out of print. 
Also
known as "Lady Ella" and the "First Lady of Song", Ella
was one of the most flawless and influential jazz singers
of the 20th Century.
An outspoken personality and artistic eloquence,
Sarah Vaughan was nick-named “Sassy” and “The Divine
One.” She was an accomplished pianist,who joined the 1940s
bebop movement becoming one of the most popular and favoured
vocalists with the Earl Hines and Billy Eckstine bands. Her vocal range
was exceptional, with total control from her lowest notes to a high
bat-squeak, and she could scat-sing with more originality than anyone in jazz.
She could also deliver ballads that squeezed every drop of emotion from a song.
Sophisticated musical sense, and horn-like phrasing brought Vaughan
million-selling hits and a stage and recording career that spanned half a century.
Often remembered as the archetypal "girl next door",
Doris Day was one of the most popular singers and movie stars
of the 1940s, '50s and '60s. A much underrated jazz singer, she began her professional
singing career as a teenager with the Bob Crosby and Les Brown
big bands. Doris's pure tones could really swing, her
vocal talent made her a star even before Hollywood beckoned. Although her movie
career directed her onto lighter more commercial material,
her love of swing-era jazz would occasionally return her to recording some
excellent band numbers with Paul Weston and small group jazz sessions with Andre
Previn, Harry James and others. 
