1950s and 1960s
The birth of rock & roll as a distinct genre, and a new generation of teenagers having different tastes than their previous adult audience caused a significant decline in the popularity of jazz.
Around the same time, the long-playing record (LP) was invented, freeing musicians from the time constraints of the extended play record (EP). The LP, being more expensive, was aimed at the adult audience who could afford to spend the extra money on records.
Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald released some of the most popular early LPs recorded in a jazz vein. Though she was constrained by her material, Ella Fitzgerald's Songbook series introduced a great many people to jazz singing.
Many of the singers who had worked with the great big bands of the swing era were now solo artists, in the prime of their careers and many had achieved fame internationally.
Sarah Vaughan, Mel Tormé, Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, Billy Eckstine, Joe Williams, Dinah Washington, Anita O'Day, Julie London, Chris Connor, June Christy and Carmen McRae all greatly advanced vocal jazz at this period.
Read more about this topic: Vocal Jazz