Singer. She was one of the most popular African-American singers of the 20th century, who was nicknamed "Queen of the Blues." Born Ruth Lee Jones, her family moved to the south side of Chicago three years later. She started her musical career singing gospel and playing piano in the church choir. After seeing Billie Holiday perform, she was influenced to start singing the blues and thereafter performed in local clubs in her early teens, where local musicians dubbed her "Queen of the Blues." At age 18, she was discovered by Lionel Hampton and was hired to front his band. It is unknown whether Hampton or a club manager changed her name to Dinah Washington. The first year with Hampton, she had her debut performance at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. While working with Hampton, she simultaneously recorded solo work, starting in 1943, and had a strong following when she decided to leave the band. She recorded with Mercury Records for fifteen years. She was awarded a Grammy for Best R&B Performance in 1959 for her cross-over song, "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes." Although the album was panned by critics, it was a commercial success. Unfortunately, her personal life was not as successful as her professional career. Starting at age 22, she was married seven times, with the last time being shortly before her death in 1963 to Dick Lane, of football fame. She had two sons. Suffering from alcoholism and an addiction to diet pills, she died from an accidental overdose combining both substances. James Haskins' 1987 biography of her, "Queen of the Blues: A Biography of Dinah Washington," tells her story. In 1993, she was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Singer. She was one of the most popular African-American singers of the 20th century, who was nicknamed "Queen of the Blues." Born Ruth Lee Jones, her family moved to the south side of Chicago three years later. She started her musical career singing gospel and playing piano in the church choir. After seeing Billie Holiday perform, she was influenced to start singing the blues and thereafter performed in local clubs in her early teens, where local musicians dubbed her "Queen of the Blues." At age 18, she was discovered by Lionel Hampton and was hired to front his band. It is unknown whether Hampton or a club manager changed her name to Dinah Washington. The first year with Hampton, she had her debut performance at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. While working with Hampton, she simultaneously recorded solo work, starting in 1943, and had a strong following when she decided to leave the band. She recorded with Mercury Records for fifteen years. She was awarded a Grammy for Best R&B Performance in 1959 for her cross-over song, "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes." Although the album was panned by critics, it was a commercial success. Unfortunately, her personal life was not as successful as her professional career. Starting at age 22, she was married seven times, with the last time being shortly before her death in 1963 to Dick Lane, of football fame. She had two sons. Suffering from alcoholism and an addiction to diet pills, she died from an accidental overdose combining both substances. James Haskins' 1987 biography of her, "Queen of the Blues: A Biography of Dinah Washington," tells her story. In 1993, she was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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