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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4	What A Difference A Day Makes full track	606
5	Unforgettable full track	564
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8	September In The Rain full track	497
9	What A Diff'rence A Day Made	474
10	Our Love Is Here To Stay full track	452
11	Silent Night full track	308
12	Ole Santa full track	251
13	Destination Moon	229
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15	This Bitter Earth full track	204

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TheBladeRunner_ wrote:
last month

Great !

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Trymski wrote:
last month

one love

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Madameobscure wrote:
last month

<3

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Prince-Marolo wrote:
last month

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

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beatrice234 wrote:
October 2009

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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