Sheila Jordan, pioneering jazz musician, dies at 96: Reports
Jordan died Monday, Aug. 12, in New York City, according to NPR and The New York Times.
A representative for Jordan was not immediately available for comment.
Known for her improvisational style and impeccable ear, Jordan rose from a childhood defined by poverty and addiction to become one of the most celebrated vocalists in the genre. Her 1963 album "Portrait of Sheila," recorded with the highly lauded label Blue Note, introduced her as a promising new songstress, and raked in rave reviews. It would be years, however, until she stepped back into the studio.
Moving from her native Detroit to New York City, Jordan worked as a secretary and typist alongside her music career to make ends meet. In 1952, she married Duke Jordan, a close collaborator to her hero Charlie Parker (Duke Jordan played as the pianist in Parker's original quartet).
The marriage was tumultuous, however, Jordan later said, revealing her husband battled a heroin addiction, which contributed to his abandoning of her and their young child, Tracey, shortly after her birth. The pair divorced in 1962.
As a single, working mom, Jordan's music career stalled. She also spent years battling her own bout of addiction. Still, she managed to find time to sing on the side, performing in bars, where she would hone her signature style: a bass and vocalist duet. The combination presented a new frontier in the genre.
In 1975, Jordan returned to the studio to record "Confirmation," and has released a steady stream of albums since, including 2025's "Portrait Now." Even in her 90s, her easily flitting vocals astounded, bouncing from deep valleys to breathy peaks, and, like the best jazz, mimicking the volatility and joy of the human spirit.
In 2012, she was recognized by the National Endowment of the Arts as a Jazz Master, the genre's highest honor.
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