Sarah Hayes

Vocalist and Bandleader, Sarah Hayes has been at the forefront of New York’s music scene for the last 15 years- Performing Jazz and Swinging Standards with numerous bands and orchestras, lighting up New York's finest Jazz Clubs with her vibrant voice, enormous repertoire and sunny personality.

Whether performances at the Montreal Jazz festival, luxury cruise ships, concerts, NY's famed 21 Club, repeat singing engagements for former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, special events, touring the country with The Artie Shaw Orchestra, (A position once held by Billie Holiday), weekly engagements in NYC with dear friend, Grammy & Hall of Famer- Tony Middleton of "The Willows" and international performances with the legendary Duke Ellington Orchestra. Sarah brings the party to the party! ​ Entertaining for three world cruises - as well as the historic journey, "The Northwest Passage" onboard the Beautiful Crystal Serenity - Sarah has been wowing internationally with her music, song stylings and bubbly personality.

Sarah’s singing career started at the tender age of 5 when she belted out her own rendition of a bluesy tune, "Oh John the Rabbit" complete with backup singers. “When I heard the applause, I was hooked,” she says today of that childhood performance in her hometown of Monticello, FL. Her passion for singing and performing landed her as Marilyn Monroe in the Universal Studio’s Hollywood Legend’s show. At Universal and Disney’s MGM Studios, both in Orlando, she also sang as Carmen Miranda with her Latin Big Band and Disney's Hoop Dee Doo Revue Show.

While in Orlando, Sarah performed with a 1920s -style big band, The Coconut Manor Orchestra. “When I sang with the band, I realized that was really my passion,” she recalls. That moment of epiphany prompted her to start her own 1920s -1930s band, "Sarah Hayes & The Prohibition Playboys". Sarah put together yet another swing band focusing on tunes from the 1930s and 1940s. "Red Hot Kitty & The Alley Cats", her retro Swing band traveled around the country, playing music halls, casinos and resorts for several years.

Sarah spent three wonderful summers at Michigan's Landmark, Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Performing nightly with the hotel’s orchestra, building her repertoire. After spending one summer singing with the Tom Haberman Orchestra at the Nevele Grand Hotel and Resort in New York, Sarah decided to make NYC her home.

Sarah has had the distinction of working with some of New York's finest musicians including dear friend, the late Benny Powell, Les Paul,Tommy C. James, Ken Peplowski, Steve Williams, Dick Hyman, John Colianni, Jay Leonhart, Joe Cohn, Lee Musiker, Jack Wilkins, Wes”Warmdaddy Anderson”, Christian McBride, Bob Kaye, Tadataka Unno and Bobby Porcelli among numerous others.

Sarah performs regularly with the Artie Shaw Orchestra, Bensen-Scott Big Band, her own septet, Swing Society, as well as her smaller trio and quartet and on occasion, The legendary Duke Ellington Orchestra.

"Over a decade now I have had the pleasure of having her perform at my club, many times. Her performance has always been an electric one. One can always guarantee the Best time & you'll never go wrong with Sarah. The guests love her." - John Akhtar, OWNER Swing 46 Jazz & Supper Club, NYC

“Sarah’s song stylings exude personality, she has charisma to spare. And with her innocent and unintentional naiveté, she wins the hearts of all who experience her performance". - Michael Andrew, Bandleader, Broadway Producer, The Nutty Professor

“Sarah has a vibrant and exciting voice~ a beautiful tone, she's a throwback to the 1940s. Her penchant for comedic interplay livens up the dullest occasions. But when she sings the occasional ballad, she leaves the listener mesmerized". – Charles Carlini, New York music producer, In Touch Entertainment

When not traveling, Sarah can be seen weekly in New York’s finest jazz clubs... Show less