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Washington, Dinah(orig. Ruth Lee Jones; Queen of the Blues)
1924 – She was born Ruth Lee Jones in real life, on the 29th day of April this year in Tuscaloosa, AL. She moved to Chicago at age three and was raised in a world of gospel, playing the piano and directing her church choir.
1939 - At 15, after winning an amateur contest at ~the Regal Theatre, she began performing in nightclubs.
1942 – She worked as singer and pianist at the Garrick Bar.
1943 – She made her recording debut for Keynote at the end of this year.
1948 – She produced an enviable string of Top Ten hits on the RB charts from this year to 1955, singing blues, standards, novelties, pop covers, even Hank Williams' "Cold, Cold Heart."
1959 – She made a sudden breakthrough into the mainstream pop market with "What a Difference a Day Makes," a revival of a Dorsey Brothers.]
1963 – She died on the 14th day of December this year in Detroit, MI. She died of an accidental overdose of diet pills mixed with alcohol at the tragically early age of 39.
  | Page last updated: 12:23pm, 23rd Mar '07 |
Related Books
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Queen: The Life and Music of Dinah Washington by Nadine Cohodas (Paperback - Jan 1, 2006) •Based on extensive family interviews and newly discovered documents•Intriguing story of a black woman pioneer in recorded musicDinah Washington sang pop, jazz, R&B and gospel, but most of...  Usually ships in 24 hours |
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Queen of the Blues: A Biography of Dinah Washington by James Haskins (Hardcover - Apr 25, 1987) |
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Blue Dinah by Dinah Cdrko 1051 Washington (Audio CD - Mar 31, 2001) |
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My Devotion by Dinah Cdwzym 205412 Washington (Audio CD - Sep 30, 2002) |
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What a Diff'Rence a Day Makes by Dinah Cdpoly 543300 Washington (Audio CD - Jul 31, 2000) |
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Queen of the Jukebox Live 1948-55 by Dinah Cdbsm 310 Washington (Audio CD - Oct 31, 2002) |
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