Sarah McLawler

Sarah McLawler, a Hammond B-3 specialist, entered the world in Louisville, Kentucky, where gospel music surrounded her church-centered childhood. Organ studies followed at an Indiana Conservatory. Big-band sounds drew her strongly enough that she slipped into Indianapolis clubs to catch Lucky Millinder’s orchestra; the encounter led to road work with the leader and, later, to the formation of the Syn-Co-Ettes, a forward-looking all-woman ensemble that served as house band at Chicago’s Savoy Club.

During a Brooklyn club residency she met classical violinist Richard Otto, whose interests also embraced jazz. They married and spent years traveling and recording as a duo. While established on the 1950s New York jazz scene, the couple befriended Milt Jackson, Errol Garner, Dinah Washington, Cab Calloway, Nat Cole, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis, Jr., and others; Washington, impressed by McLawler’s playing, once proposed serving as her manager.

McLawler’s 1950s singles for King and Brunswick have since become collector items, among them “I Can’t Stop Loving You” and “Love, Sweet Love” for King, plus “Red Light,” “Tipping In,” “Let’s Get the Party Rocking,” and “Blue Room.” Joint recordings with Otto include “Somehow,” “Yesterday,” and “Body & Soul” for Brunswick, as well as “Babe in the Woods,” “Relax, Miss Frisky,” “Flamingo,” “Canadian Sunset,” and “At the Break of Day” for Vee-Jay.

She continues to champion jazz standards, believing many well-known pieces have never received adequate exposure. Notable recent engagements include appearances at the Newport Jazz Festivals and the Newark Jazz Festival. Long based in New York City, she still performs periodically at the Novotel hotel there.