Editing Sarah Vaughan (section)

===1942–1943: Early career===
Vaughan was frequently accompanied by a friend, Doris Robinson, on her trips into New York City. In the fall of 1942, by which time she was 18 years old, Vaughan suggested that Robinson enter the [[Apollo Theater]] Amateur Night contest. Vaughan played piano accompaniment for Robinson, who won second prize. Vaughan later decided to go back and compete as a singer herself. She sang "[[Body and Soul (1930 song)|Body and Soul]]" and won—although the date of this victorious performance is uncertain. The prize, as Vaughan recalled to [[Marian McPartland]], was $10 and the promise of a week's engagement at the Apollo. On November 20, 1942, she returned to the Apollo to open for [[Ella Fitzgerald]].<ref name="Hayes">{{cite book |last1=Hayes |first1=Elaine M. |title=Queen of Bebop: The Musical Lives of Sarah Vaughan |date=July 4, 2017 |publisher=Ecco/Harper Collins |isbn=978-0-06-236468-5 |edition=1|pages=29–32}}</ref>

During her week of performances at the Apollo, Vaughan was introduced to bandleader and pianist [[Earl Hines]], although the details of that introduction are disputed. [[Billy Eckstine]], Hines' singer at the time, has been credited by Vaughan and others with hearing her at the Apollo and recommending her to Hines. Hines claimed later to have discovered her himself and offered her a job on the spot. After a brief tryout at the Apollo, Hines replaced his female singer with Vaughan on April 4, 1943.<ref name="sassy" />