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Synopsis

One of the most beloved vocalists of the past century, Dinah Washington (1924-1963) was justly celebrated for her very personal singing style that was at home in all types of music, be it blues, jazz, R & B or pop. In this respect, she was gifted with an unmistakable salty, high-pitched voice that was perfect for her complete clarity of diction and her phrasing with strong roots in the blues. An artist who led a very turbulent personal life, Dinah Washington was known for her no-nonsense, unsentimental, yet always moving renditions centered on the universal subject of lost love. It should come as no surprise that her unique vocal style exerted huge influence on jazz and R & B singers such as Esther Phillips, Nancy Wilson and Diane Schuur.

Gathering material from early in her career, this video offers a fascinating picture of the young Dinah Washington, at a time when she was mainly concentrating on jazzy, torrid R & B numbers shortly after she had been discovered by bandleader Lionel Hampton. Featuring different clips and appearances (some of them at Harlem's legendary Apollo Theatre), this is an essential document that will surely surprise and fascinate the many fans of the late great Dinah Washington. The video has been completed with a selection of soundies from Martha Davis, Ruth Brown, Dorothy Dandridge, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and other female vocalists form the Forties and Fifties.