Shirley Witherspoon

Shirley Witherspoon was a jazz vocalist with much gospel influence, who was simply often in comparison to blues shouter Etta Wayne and jazz tale Dinah Washington. Her 1st big break arrived like a vocalist with Duke Ellington in 1969. Even though the engagement was short, it did consist of some memorable occasions, including a efficiency in the inauguration of Chief executive Nixon. She spent the ’70s in LA, but came back to her house of Minneapolis, MN, in the ’80s, creating a solid following and status through her personal regional showcases and tributes to Billie Vacation and Bessie Smith. She ultimately documented two albums of jazz specifications, Where SHOULD I Sign? in 1994 and Magic & Like in 1999. Health issues began to consider their toll for the vocalist in the ’00s, and she passed away of heart failing on June 12, 2003.