Opinion: RI's Carol Sloane performed with some of the world's jazz greats

Tom Shaker lives in Woonsocket and is an author, filmmaker and the host of “The Soul Serenade” on WICN, 90.5FM.

All Rhode Islanders should note the recent passing of jazz great and Smithfield’s own Carol Sloane. She was considered a “pure” jazz voice with an amazing pitch. Her creativity with a song became her trademark.

In her remarkable career, she toured the world and sang with some of the greatest jazz musicians on the planet — Oscar Peterson, Clark Terry and Kenny Barron to name just a few. She was a big band singer as well as a solo artist who released many recordings.

From her humble beginnings in Northern Rhode Island, she started her career at the age of 14, singing in the Ed Drew Orchestra and playing at local establishments such as Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet. She’s played with Rhode Island jazz legends such as Dave McKenna, Mike Renzi and Artie Cabral. She was inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame in 2016.

Carol’s career took her to engagements at legendary jazz clubs such as The Village Vanguard in New York City and Ronnie Scott’s in London. She sang at the Newport Jazz Festival and had a huge following in Japan. She made TV appearances on "The Steve Allen Show" and "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson." Carol played Carnegie Hall.

I got to know Carol while working on my book ("A Treasury of Rhode Island Jazz & Swing Musicians") and she also appeared in my documentary about Providence's legendary Celebrity Club ("Do It Man! The Story of The Celebrity Club"). It was New England's first integrated nightclub. She told a great story about going to the club as a teenager and seeing Sarah Vaughan perform.

Carol was so generous with her time. I remember a wonderful lunch we had together where she entertained me for hours with great stories about her exceptional life. Her stint on Arthur Godfrey's radio show ("he was all hands") and her one-of-a-kind relationship with Oscar Peterson were just a couple of those tales.

She was a true sweetheart, with kind words for all her fellow musicians. She stayed true to her home state, often playing with one of her favorite pianists, Rhode Island's own Mike Renzi, and, on occasion, another Rhode Islander, saxophonist Scott Hamilton.

Carol Sloane was everything Rhode Islanders value. She was warm, honest, bold and fearless. And, oh, what a voice!

She was a true jazz artist with an incredible gift, and, like all her fans the world over, a lover of jazz.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: The remarkable career of RI jazz singer Carol Sloane | Opinion Column