Dinah Washington

Dinah Washington (August 29, 1924 - December 14, 1963) an American blues, jazz, and gospel singer. Because of her strong voice and emotional singing, she is known as the "Queen of the Blues".

Washington was born

Dinah Washington (August 29, 1924 - December 14, 1963) an American blues, jazz, and gospel singer. Because of her strong voice and emotional singing, she is known as the "Queen of the Blues".

Washington was born Ruth Jones in Tuscaloosa, Alabama; her family moved to Chicago while she was still a child. 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 and 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.