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Dinah Washington
Rock & Roll, Rhythm & Blues
Scott #2730
Joint Release on June 16, 1993
at Santa Monica, CA & Cleveland, OH

Designed by John Berkey

Ruth Lee Jones was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on August 29, 1924. 

Ruth's family moved to Chicago, Illinois when she was still a young child and she became active in the church, playing the piano and singing in the choir. In 1939 Ruth toured with Sallie Martin's Gospel group and also began singing in some of the Chicago nightclubs.

Ruth took her stage name, Dinah Washington in 1942. Dinah was noted for her clear and penetrating delivery and her excellent voice control. She sang with the Lionel Hampton band from 1943 to 1946. Dinah began her solo singing career in 1946 and her recordings were consistently in the top ten of the Rhythm and Blues charts. In the mid fifties Dinah began recording Pop music. Although she continued to produce a few hits after 1956, her pop music did not sell as well as her earlier Rhythm and Blues songs.

Dinah was at the peak of her musical career when she died from an overdose of diet pills and alcohol at the age of 39.  Dinah Washington died in Detroit, Michigan on December 14, 1963.

Sources: 
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Africana
Atlanta Music Group (AMG)


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