“Queen of the Blues”
August 29, 1924 – December 14, 1963
The Queen of the Blues was born as Ruth Lee Jones in Tuscaloosa, AL. Her family moved to Chicago before she started school. She grew up in church, playing piano and singing in Gospel Choirs. Ruth won a talent contest when she was 15, dropped out of school, and started singing in night clubs.
By the early 1940s, she was singing at the upstairs stage of the Garrick Stage Lounge, while Billie Holiday was performing at the downstairs stage. She changed her name to Dinah Washington shortly before Lionel Hampton picked her up for his band. She recorded “Evil Gal Blues” and “Salty Papa Blues” with his band in 1944, both songs making it into Billboard’s Harlem Hit Parade.
Dinah started her solo career in 1945, her recordings were usually top 10 hits. Her greatest success was the crossover R&B hit, “What a Difference a Day Makes”, for which she earned a Grammy in 1959. She performed at several Jazz festivals during this time. Known mostly for Torch Songs, she kept a little Hokum Blues in her repertoire including “Big Long Sliding Thing”.
Dinah was married at least 6 times, maybe up to 9 times, saying “I change my husbands before they change me.” She died in 1963 from an accidental overdose of diet and insomnia medications.
Happy Birthday Dinah! We wish you had more time.
Big Long Slidin’ Thing
