* En anglais uniquement
Jazz vocalist
Joya Sherrill was one of
Duke Ellington's favorite vocalists. Not only did he praise her clear diction and articulation,
Ellington worked with
Sherrill throughout the '40s. In turn,
Sherrill worked with
Ellington alumni like
Rex Stewart and
Ray Nance into the '60s, and albums like 1965's
Sings Duke reunited her with
Ellington's songs and players. In 1994 at the age of 67,
Sherrill revealed that her vocal skills were still strong half a century after her early heydays with
the Duke by recording another set of
Ellington songs, Black Beauty: The Duke in Mind.
Joya Sherrill died at her home in Great Neck, NY on June 28, 2010 at the age of 85 after being stricken by leukemia. ~ Heather Phares