Dinah Washington

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Dinah Washington (August 29, 1924 – December 14, 1963) was an American blues, jazz, and gospel singer. Because of her strong voice and emotional singing, she is known as the “Queen of the Blues” until the success of Koko Taylor in late 1960s.

Washington was born Ruth Jones in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. As she was growing up in Chicago, she played piano and directed her church choir. Later, she studied in Walter Dyett’s renowned music program at DuSable High School. For a while, she split her time between performing in clubs as Dinah Washington while singing and playing piano in Salle Martin’s gospel choir as Ruth Jones.

Her penetrating voice, excellent timing, and crystal-clear enunciation added her own distinctive style to every piece she undertook. While making extraordinary recordings in jazz, blues, R&B and light pop contexts, Washington refused to record gospel music despite her obvious talent in singing it—-she believed it wrong to mix the secular and spiritual.

Washington began performing in 1942 and soon joined Lionel Hampton’s band. In 1943, she began recording for Keynote Records and released “Evil Gal Blues”, her first hit. By 1955, she had released numerous hit songs on the R&B charts, including “Baby, Get Lost”, “Trouble in Mind”, “You Don’t Know What Love Is” (arranged by Quincy Jones), and a cover of “Cold, Cold Heart” by Hank Williams. In 1958 she made a well-received appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival.

With “What a Diff’rence a Day Makes” 1959, Washington won a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Performance; the song was her biggest hit, reaching #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.

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jazz, female vocalists, blues, jazz vocal, vocal jazz
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Top Tracks

1	Mad About The Boy full track	1,482
2	Cry Me A River full track	661
3	Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby full track	588
4	Teach Me Tonight full track	497
5	Unforgettable full track	488
6	What A Diff'rence A Day Made	486
7	Our Love Is Here To Stay full track	481
8	Call Me Irresponsible	446
9	September In The Rain full track	436
10	What A Difference A Day Makes full track	419
11	Destination Moon	220
12	This Bitter Earth full track	198
13	Smoke Gets In Your Eyes full track	193
14	Cry Me A River (Truth & Soul Remix)	162
15	Since I Fell For You full track	158

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TheBladeRunner_ wrote:
last week

Great !

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Trymski wrote:
last week

one love

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Madameobscure wrote:
18 days ago

<3

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Prince-Marolo wrote:
18 days ago

Goodness gracious what a singer! THat phrasing, the intensity, the timing and diction - blows me away every time.

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beatrice234 wrote:
last month

fav.

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Mishichan wrote:
September 2009

There aren't enough words in the dictionary. She's simply the best. :)

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luizadu wrote:
September 2009

ooohhhhhhh it´s heaven, heaven , heaven with youuuuu

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Batiste369 wrote:
July 2009

Hope she's resting in peace (Damn Burr Oak Cemetery)

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lmy461260329 wrote:
July 2009

Dinah Washington it's very good

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cocoared wrote:
May 2009

much respect!

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digi35 wrote:
May 2009

For me, she is THE VOICE.

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CedricoIkari wrote:
May 2009

She died so young.

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mariamariaaaa wrote:
May 2009

Did you say I’ve got a lot to learn...............)

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soaree wrote:
April 2009

we need more oldschool recommendations like Dinah. help out. if you think you fit in that is. :) SUCKERS for Female Vocalists \o/

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EmmaKSpence wrote:
April 2009

SENSUAL PIANO, SOULFUL VOICE: www.last.fm/music/Emma+K+Spence Her seductively soulful voice delivers her gift for rendering a story into song, telling of the wavering temperament of love. Her sensual piano style is a melodic and passionate richness that will effortlessly shift your senses. www.last.fm/music/Emma+K+Spence/The+Piano+Sessions

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gencehan wrote:
April 2009

a diva

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Charlene62690 wrote:
March 2009

<3 her. I don't hurt anymore<3

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penlovesyou wrote:
February 2009

about how she is amazing. i miss this old schoolness big band of music.

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jazztrip wrote:
January 2009

there's a special place in heaven reserved strictly for female jazz singers and dinah certainly is one of the top angels.

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fabi_anadantas wrote:
December 2008

umas das faixas mais escutadas por mim . Maravilhaaaaa.

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