|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZWASHINGTON, Dinah(b Ruth Lee Jones, 29 Aug. '24, Tuscaloosa AL; d 14 Dec. '62, Detroit) Singer whose gutsy style, unique phrasing, gospel background and feeling for the blues transcended category. Won talent contest at the Regal Theatre, toured with Sallie Martin Gospel Singers, changed her name and sang with Lionel Hampton band '43--6; first session under her own name was prod. by Leonard Feather for Keynote label late '43 with Hampton sidemen incl. Arnett Cobb, Milt Buckner, incl. Feather's 'Evil Gal Blues', 'Salty Papa Blues'; Hampton turned up and played a little piano and drums, but his manager (Joe Glaser), record label (Decca) and wife (Gladys) made no end of trouble, though Decca was never interested in Washington. She subsequently recorded for Mercury, nearly 30 R&B hits '49--61 beginning with Feather's 'Baby, Get Lost' a no. 1 hit (Decca's Milt Gabler had Billie Holiday record a cover). Her only other no. 1 was 'This Bitter Earth' '60, but more than half the hits were in the top ten; over 20 singles making pop chart on Mercury incl. good songs going back to '34: 'What A Diff'rence A Day Makes', 'It Could Happen To You', 'Our Love Is Here To Stay', 'For All We Know', others: unlike today's pop stars she could make a good song mean something new instead of recording soundalike ditties written in the studio. Duets with Brook Benton were top ten: 'Baby (You've Got What It Takes)', 'A Rockin' Good Way (To Mess Around And Fall In Love)', both '60. She switched to Roulette '62, had a few more hits; she was married seven times; died of a common show- business accident, mixing alcohol and pills. Chart LPs incl. What A Diff'rence A Day Makes '60, Unforgettable and September In The Rain '61 (all three with hit title singles, unique revivals of hit songs by the Dorsey Bros. '34, Nat Cole '51, Guy Lombardo '37 respectively), I Wanna Be Loved '62 (title track charted, revival of her own first pop hit '50), all on Mercury; also Dinah '62, Drinking Again, Back To The Blues and A Stranger On Earth '62--4 on Roulette. The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury '46--61 in seven three-CD sets. Many compilations and reissues in various countries incl. two-disc The Jazz Sides incl. tracks with Quincy Jones, others from Newport Jazz Festivals etc; All Of Me and Teach Me Tonight probably recycle some of this, all on Jazz World, Jazz Time, Jazz Hour labels. Also Mellow Mama '45 on Delmark, In Love on Roulette, Dinah '63 on Blue Note etc. Single albums from the Polygram material incl. The Two Of Us with Benton, Fats Waller Songbook '57, The Bessie Smith Songbook '57--8, In The Land Of Hi-Fi '56, others. |