Vaughan dies of lung cancer on April 3, 1990, in Los Angeles.
On April 3, 1990, Sarah Vaughan passed away in Los Angeles, California, succumbing to complications from lung cancer at the age of 66. Her death was a significant loss to the music world, as she had not only defined jazz vocalization for generations but had also expanded listeners' understanding of what the human voice could achieve. Vaughan's legacy lives on through her extensive recordings and the influence she had—and continues to have—across the world of music.