Sherrill was born in Bayonne, New Jersey, on August 20, 1924.^[1] Her first ambition was to become a writer:^[1] she was the editor of her school paper.^[2] She had a sister, Alice.^[1]

Sherrill began her career with Duke Ellington in July 1942 when she was 17 years old. After a period at Wilberforce University, she rejoined in 1944 and remained with Ellington until 1946, when she left to marry Richard Guilmenot.^[1] Ellington considered her one of his favorite singers.^[3] "I never really left the band. I did recordings and special occasions. Duke would call me for jobs once a year at least," Sherrill told John S. Wilson in 1979.^[2] Sherrill also performed with Ellingtonians Ray Nance and Rex Stewart for many years.^[3] She worked with Ellington on the television broadcast of A Drum Is a Woman (1957), and toured the USSR with Benny Goodman in 1962.^[1] The 1965 album Joya Sherrill Sings Duke features Ellingtonians performing in support.^[4]

From 1970, Sherrill hosted a children's television show, Time for Joya, later called Joya's Fun School.^[1] This was recorded for a few years, but was rerun until 1982.^[1] In the mid-1970s, she accompanied her husband when he went to Iran for his work.^[2] There, she had her own television program, which was broadcast live.^[2] She returned to singing in New York near the end of that decade.^[2]

Her husband died in 1989;^[1] they had a son and a daughter.^[2] Sherrill died from leukemia at home in Great Neck, New York, on June 28, 2010.^[3]

Joya Sherrill

Born	(1924-08-20)August 20, 1924 Bayonne, New Jersey, United States
Died	June 28, 2010(2010-06-28) (aged 85) Great Neck, New York, United States
Education	Wilberforce University
Occupation(s)	Jazz vocalist and children's television show host

Biography

Discography

As leader

As guest

References