Washington was well known for singing torch songs . In 1962, she hired a male backing trio called the Allegros, consisting of Jimmy Thomas on drums, Earl Edwards on sax, and Jimmy Sigler on organ. Edwards was replaced on sax by John Payne. A Variety writer praised their vocals as…
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In 1959, she had her first top ten pop hit, with a version of ” What a Diff’rence a Day Makes “, which made Number 4 on the US pop chart. Her band at that time included arranger and conductor Belford Hendricks , with Kenny Burrell (guitar), Joe Zawinul (piano),…
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Washington’s achievements included appearances at the Newport Jazz Festival (1955–1959), the Randalls Island Jazz Festival in New York City (1959), and the International Jazz Festival in Washington, D.C. (1962), frequent gigs at Birdland (1958, 1961–1962), and performances in 1963 with Count Basie and Duke Ellington .
In 1950, Washington performed at the sixth Cavalcade of Jazz concert held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles which was produced by Leon Hefflin, Sr. on June 25. Also featured on the same day were Lionel Hampton , PeeWee Crayton’s Orchestra, Roy Milton and his Orchestra, Tiny Davis and Her…
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One source states that Washington “produced 45 R&B-charted hits between 1948 and 1961, including 16 Top 15 placements between 1948 and 1950”.
She stayed with Hampton’s band until 1946, after the Keynote label folded, and signed for Mercury Records as a solo singer. Her first record for Mercury, a version of Fats Waller ‘s ” Ain’t Misbehavin’ “, was another hit, starting a long string of success. Between 1948 and 1955, she…
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She made her recording debut for the Keynote label that December with ” Evil Gal Blues “, written by Leonard Feather and backed by Hampton and musicians from his band, including Joe Morris (trumpet) and Milt Buckner (piano). Both that record and its follow-up, “Salty Papa Blues”, made the Billboard…
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After winning a talent contest at the age of 15, she began performing in clubs. By 1941–42, she was performing in such Chicago clubs as Dave’s Café and the Downbeat Room of the Sherman Hotel (with Fats Waller ). She was playing at the Three Deuces, a jazz club, when…
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