Dinah Washington
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Tuscaloosa AL, United States (1942 – 1963)
Ruth Lee Jones (born August 29, 1924 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama; died December 14, 1963 in Detroit, Michigan), better known by her stage name Dinah Washington and also as the Queen of the Blues, was an American Grammy award winning blues, jazz and rhythm and blues singer best known for singing classic torch songs and her hit single What A Diff’rence A Day Makes. 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, rhythm and blues and light pop contexts, Washington refused to record gospel music despite her obvious talent in singing it, as she believed it wrong to mix the secular and spiritual.
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.
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.
What A Diff’rence A Day Makes. 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, rhythm and blues and light pop contexts, Washington refused to record gospel music despite her obvious talent in singing it, as she believed it wrong to mix the secular and spiritual.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.
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.
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Shoutbox
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sna033 wrote:
The best voices of jazz in my opinion: Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson and Etta Jones
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prime1128 wrote:
She was married eight times! That's hardcore.
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FyoMiDos wrote:
DINAH <3!!
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Irenreinmerdok wrote:
great voice
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onitorment wrote:
I can see what Amy Winehouse was channeling through Washington. The symmetry. Beautiful.
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sacorpe wrote:
what a difference her voice makes! [3]
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zecchin19 wrote:
what a difference her voice makes! [2]
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Alfa-Beta wrote:
The Queen of Jazz.
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syd93 wrote:
this a woman who feels everything she sings. Which is what makes a great singer. I wish she hadn't died when she did !!
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MoonlitSea wrote:
She had a DYNAMIC voice. <3
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SimoneBerlioz wrote:
you are a master piece <3
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Druid66 wrote:
Make way for Her Majesty, the Queen of the Blues, Miss Washington herself!
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alamajor wrote:
what a difference a day makes (L)
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Ulalala16 wrote:
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes<3
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MusicProducer70 wrote:
Hi Friends! See now the video of Tina Still: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7y5RSh3qj0 Tks! Thiago
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suibrahim wrote:
that song's the one I could cry with!
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lou672 wrote:
I like Firefox browsers and lost.fm.
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elguevara wrote:
Today i heard her Voice the first time, can´t find words... Just Beautiful!
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sandykaka wrote:
died so young. love her voice
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bernarducs wrote:
what a difference her voice makes!
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'This Bitter Earth'
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..Send me to the electric chair
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I Thought About You
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