Carmen McRae

Instrument: Vocalist
Born: Harlem, New York

"You should know an instrument to be a good jazz singer. If you don't, you just luck out. Look at Jon Hendricks. Ain't nobody can scat better than him, and I don't think he knows an instrument, but that's one of those rare, rare occasions. But Ella plays a little piano. Sarah played piano; I play piano; Shirley Horn plays. All those ladies can sing jazz."

- Carmen McRae
DownBeat