Jazz singer Ernestine Anderson, whose voice was like 'honey at dusk' and who won four Grammy nominations, dies at 87
- Singer died from natural causes at nursing home in Shoreline, Washington
- Began singing aged three and had career spanning six decades
- Quincy Jones described her voice as sounding like 'honey at dusk'
- Has three children, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren
Jazz Vocalist, Ernestine Anderson, has died aged 87 after a sparkling career that saw her earn four Grammy nominations.
The much loved singer, whose voice was once described by Quincy Jones as sounding like 'honey at dusk' passed away from natural causes at her nursing home in Shoreline, Washington, on Thursday.
It is reported that the singer died 'peacefully, surrounded by her family,' in the carehome that she had lived in since 2011, according to the Seattle Times.
Internationally acclaimed jazz singer, Ernestine Anderson passed away from natural causes at her nursing home in Washington on Thursday
Ernestine was born on November 11, 1928, along with her twin sister, Josephine in Houston to a construction worker and homemaker.
Her destiny was clear from a young age as by the age of three, she was already singing at church.
But it was when she won a regional competition at the age of 12 that her life really began to change and the talented youngest sang at Houston's Eldorado Ballroom once a week for about four months.
However, according to NPR, Ernestine's schoolwork began to suffer because of all the music that she was performing.
So, to get his daughter back on track, Ernestine's father moved the family to Seattle in 1944.
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This didn't stop Ernestine and she left home at the age of 18 to tour with a big band, led by Johnny Otis.
By 1948 she had recorded her first single, K.C. Lover/Good Lovin' Babe and had also got married for the first time.
This was just the start for Ernestine, who went on to record over 30 albums during her six decade career.
As her fame grew, the singer travelled between Los Angeles, New York and Europe.
However, she often returned to where she grew up, in Seattle.
She also collaborated with a number of big names in New York, including Jones, Russell Jacquet, tenor saxophonist Clifford 'King' Solomon and others.
It is reported that the singer died 'peacefully, surrounded by her family,' in the carehome that she had lived in since 2011
The singer was described as having a voice like 'honey at dusk' and had a career spanning six decades (pictured singing the National Anthem at an NFC game in 2006)
However, Ernestine soon became frustrated with her slow career growth in the city and decided to join Swedish bandleader, Rolf Ericson to tour Europe.
This was the boost that her career needed and while she was there she recorded the album, Hot Cargo, which saw her named 'the best-kept jazz secret in the land' by Time Magazine and described as a 'new star' by jazz magazine, Down Beat.
Anderson released six albums on Mercury Records, including the much-praised Moanin.
However, despite her success, Ernestine's career subsided in the 1960s and in 1966, she returned to Seattle and quit singing, reported AP.
But in the 1970s she made a comeback and signed with the Concord Jazz label.
From this point, Anderson released, Hello, Like Before, in 1977 and more than a dozen albums followed over the next 15 years.
However, the singer still managed to have a full family life and sadly leaves behind three children, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Ernestine sadly leaves behind three children, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren following her death
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