Sheila Jordan, a decorated jazz singer renowned for her distinctive bebop and scat singing style, has passed away at the age of 96. The Detroit News reports that Jordan died in her New York City home on Monday. She is survived by her daughter, Tracey Jordan, who confirmed her mother's passing and noted the comfort her music brought in her final moments.
Jordan, noted for her ability to improvise lyrics and her expertise in scat singing, received the esteemed National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master award in 2012. Yet, despite such recognition, she has often been considered an underappreciated talent within the jazz landscape. As someone who helped to define the musical genre she so dearly loved, Jordan's passing marks the end of a chapter in jazz history. Her last performance was captured on Valentine's Day at The Green Mill in Chicago, as per information shared by People, which is also when she released her latest studio album, "Portrait Now."
According to Jordan's daughter, donations recently gathered through a GoFundMe page will be used to settle medical debts and secure a resting place for Sheila at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Jazz Corner. "Her friend Joan Belgrave was playing her a bebop tune called Bill for Bennie, by her late husband Marcus Belgrave. My mom fell asleep listening to the music she loved and helped define," Tracey Jordan expressed in a GoFundMe update. A memorial service is being planned for the future at Saint Peter's Church in New York City, as noted by MassLive.
In addition to her impeccable musical career, Jordan was also an influential educator, profoundly impacting the jazz scene not only through her performances but through her teachings. She taught at the City College of New York until 2005 and conducted workshops internationally. "It's been a beautiful experience for me. And I don't know, I just try to teach from my heart and give them the support that I think that they need," she told the National Endowment for the Arts, as obtained by People. Despite not becoming a household name, Jordan's legacy is carried on by those she inspired, from established artists to aspiring students of jazz. In a 2014 interview with NPR, she humbly stated that "the people that respect what I do and hire me, that's all I need." Jordan's contributions certainly continue to resonate within the jazz community and beyond.
