Jazz vocalist Shirley Crabbe sings songs that speak to the heart. As a teenager, Shirley was inspired by a performance of Ella Fitzgerald singing the song “A Tisket, A Tasket” in an old Abbot and Costello movie. “I’ve always had a passion for singing, but when I heard Ella sing, I knew that “jazz singing” was what I really wanted to do.”
Following her passion, Shirley pursued her dreams first to Illinois to earn a Bachelor of Music from Northwestern University, and then back home to New York, to study Voice at the distinguished Manhattan School of Music (MSM). During the day she studied classical music uptown at MSM, but in the evening, she traveled downtown to sing jazz in the clubs. Shirley has performed at festivals, jazz clubs and concert series in New York City and it’s surrounding area. Her most recent appearance was at the Metropolitan Room. She has also performed at the world-famous jazz club Birdland, appeared as a soloist at Madison Square Garden in its renowned Paramount Theater and opened for the jazz icon Abby Lincoln. She has also performed with the celebrated jazz pianist Harold Mabern and bassist Jamil Nasser. In 2010, Shirley was one of the top 5 finalists at Jazzmobile’s “Best of the Best” Jazz Vocalist Competition held in New York City. In 2009, she was awarded Rockland County’s highest arts award: the County Executive Performing Artist Award. She is also the Stanton Bronze Medalist of the 2008 American Traditions Vocal Competition at the Savannah International Music Festival in Georgia. A versatile performer, Shirley has also appeared in various stage productions including Coming to the Mercy Seat at Shetler Studio’s Theater 54 in the role of the Poet and in Ain’t Misbehavin’ at the Elmwood Theater, where she performed the role of Armelia. She is a featured soloist on the jazz CD Africa by The Mystic Pilgrims and will release her debut album Home in September.
