Shirley Horn

Description

Shirley Horn: born in 1934 she was an American jazz singer and pianist. She collaborated with many jazz greats including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Toots Thielemans, Ron Carter, Carmen McRae, Wynton Marsalis, and others. She was most noted for her ability to accompany herself with nearly incomparable independence and ability on the piano while singing, something described by arranger Johnny Mandel as “like having two heads”, and for her rich, lush voice, a smoky contralto, which was described by noted producer and arranger Quincy Jones as “like clothing, as she seduces you with her voice”. Shirley was nominated for 9 Grammy Awards winning Best Jazz Vocal for I Remember Miles. She was recognized by the 109^th Congress for her contributions to American Jazz and Culture and performed many times at the White House for many different Presidents. She received an Honorary Doctor of Music from Berklee College of Music and an NEA Jazz Masters Award. Shirley Horn died in 2005 from diabetes.