
The legacy continues with Newark’s own “Sassy” Sarah Vaughan, whose onstage presence matched her sassy moniker and personality. Vaughan’s early rise to fame began after winning Amateur Night at Harlem’s famed Apollo Theatre where she ultimately performed with esteemed bandleaders Earl Hines and Billy Eckstine before going solo. Once Vaughan’s solo career took off, she was bestowed “The Divine One” handle for her multiple hits including “Broken Hearted Melody” and for introducing bop-oriented phrasing into her repertoire. Ella Fitzgerald once said about Sarah Vaughan, ’She is the most important singer to emerge from the be-bop era.’ And with two Grammy Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award, those words couldn’t be more true.