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Dinah Washington

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Dinah Washington was born Ruth Lee Jones in 1924 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and grew up in Chicago. As a child she played piano in the choir of St. Luke's Baptist Church, sang gospel and became a member of the Sallie Martin Gospel Singers. At fifteen she won a talent contest and began performing in clubs. A club owner was so impressed by her singing that the way to a career lay open, and around 1943 she began singing with Lionel Hampton's band.

Music and breakthrough

Her first record was Evil Gal Blues for the label Keynote, written by Leonard Feather and accompanied by musicians from Hampton's band. Both that record and its successor Salty Papa Blues reached the Billboard Harlem Hit Parade in 1944. After that she became one of the most popular Black female singers of the 1950s. She sang mainly jazz, but also blues, r&b and traditional pop songs. She called herself the Queen of the Blues, and was also known as the Queen of the Jukeboxes. Her 1959 recording of What a Diff'rence a Day Makes is one of her best known.

Influence

Washington had a clear, piercing voice with a feeling for the blues and very distinct diction. She died in 1963, aged 39. Her way of singing, in which gospel, jazz and pop come together, was later taken up by many female singers. In 1986 she was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to What a Diff'rence a Day Makes and notice Washington's clear diction and how she colours the words with small nuances in her voice. What part does the orchestra play?

Discography

Studio albums

Other work

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

See also

Categories: ArtistsVocal jazzSoul jazz