Elaine Hayes

Research Associate

Elaine is a former academic turned writer, editor, and researcher. Her experience spans writing lifestyle content for a trend-driven city magazine, serving as an editor of a local jazz magazine, project evaluation, and driving large, multi-faceted research projects.

 She is also the author of the critically acclaimed biography Queen of Bebop: The Musical Lives of Sarah Vaughan (Ecco, 2017). Recognized as a best book of the year by Amazon, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and the Washington Post, Queen of Bebop tells the story of this iconic vocalist’s rise from a choirgirl in Newark, New Jersey, to an innovator at the forefront of modern jazz, a pop star, and ultimately a vocal legend. While promoting Queen of Bebop, she was interviewed by NPR and PBS New Jersey and presented multiple invited lectures.

 Elaine holds a Ph.D. in Musicology from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in Biology and Music History from the University of Wisconsin. A proud parent of an independent school student, she lives in Seattle with her husband, son, and Archie the miniature poodle.