18 Facts About Dinah Washington

Dinah Washington was a 1986 inductee of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

Dinah Washington became deeply involved in gospel music and played piano for the choir in St Luke's Baptist Church while still in elementary school.

Dinah Washington sang gospel music in church and played piano, directing her church choir in her teens and was a member of the Sallie Martin Gospel Singers.

Dinah Washington sang lead with the first female gospel singers formed by Sallie Martin, who was co-founder of the Gospel Singers Convention.

Dinah Washington was playing at the Three Deuces, a jazz club, when a friend took her to hear Billie Holiday at the Garrick Stage Bar.

Dinah Washington credited Joe Sherman with suggesting the change from Ruth Jones, made before Lionel Hampton came to hear Dinah at the Garrick.

Hampton's visit brought an offer, and Washington worked as his female band vocalist after she had sung with the band for its opening at the Chicago Regal Theatre.

Dinah Washington stayed with Hampton's band until 1946, after the Keynote label folded, and signed for Mercury Records as a solo singer.

Dinah Washington's hit recordings included blues, standards, novelties, pop covers, and even a version of Hank Williams' "Cold, Cold Heart".

In 1950, Dinah Washington performed at the sixth famed Cavalcade of Jazz concert held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles which was produced by Leon Hefflin, Sr.

Dinah Washington returned to perform at the twelfth Cavalcade of Jazz at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles on September 2,1956.

Dinah Washington notably performed two numbers in the dirty blues genre.

Dinah Washington said he wouldn't hurt me, but he filled my whole inside.

Dinah Washington was a good friend of mine, you know.

Dinah Washington used to just come in with two suitcases in Vegas without being booked.

In 1962, Dinah Washington hired a male backing trio called the Allegros, consisting of Jimmy Thomas on drums, Earl Edwards on sax, and Jimmy Sigler on organ.

Dinah Washington's achievements included appearances at the Newport Jazz Festival, the Randalls Island Jazz Festival in New York City, and the International Jazz Festival in Dinah Washington, DC, frequent gigs at Birdland, and performances in 1963 with Count Basie and Duke Ellington.

Dinah Washington is buried in the Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois.