Dinah Washington American jazz singer and pianist Date of Birth: 29.08.1924 Country: USA

Biography of Dinah Washington

Dinah Washington, born Ruth Jones on August 29, 1924, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, was an American jazz singer and pianist. She began her musical career at a very young age, playing the piano and singing in a Negro Baptist choir in Chicago.

At the age of 15, Washington participated in an amateur vocal competition at the Regal Theatre in Chicago, where she achieved great success. She went on to tour as an accompanist with blues singer Clara Ward. From 1942, she performed in bars and nightclubs, gaining recognition and catching the attention of entrepreneur Joe Glaser.

Through Glaser's intervention, Washington received an invitation to join Lionel Hampton's orchestra in 1943. She toured with various ensembles and orchestras as a soloist from 1946 onwards.

In 1958, Washington collaborated with Urbie Green, Terry Gibbs, and Max Roach for the filming of the jazz festival movie "Jazz On A Summer's Day" in Newport. The following year, she embarked on a tour of England, performing on BBC radio programs, and later visited Sweden. She also embarked on a trip across the United States with Joe Zawinul as her accompanist.

In 1963, Washington ranked among the leading vocalists in Down Beat magazine's poll. She recorded numerous albums, including solo albums starting from 1943, and albums with Lionel Hampton's orchestra (1943-44), Lucky Thompson (1945), Quincy Jones, and others.

In the 1940s, Dinah Washington became one of the recognized stars in the field of blues-in-swing jazz interpretation. Both the audience and critics acclaimed her as the "Queen of the Blues." She possessed a powerful, slightly coarse-toned voice and sang in a dynamic manner reminiscent of classic blues singers like Bessie Smith. Her performances often featured sharp humor, sometimes quite cynical, and she incorporated various shout effects.

Washington was influenced by gospel music and showcased her talent as a bebop vocalist in the 1950s. Additionally, she gained immense popularity as an R&B singer.

Dinah Washington tragically passed away on December 14, 1963, in Detroit, Michigan. Her contributions to jazz and blues music continue to be celebrated and remembered to this day.