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Biography
: This article is about soul vocalist Justine Washington, better known as Baby Washington . For the funk vocalist of a similar name, see Jeanette Washington .
BLP sources|date=October 2007 Justine "Baby" Washington (born November 13, 1940, Bamberg, South Carolina|Bamberg , South Carolina ) is an United States|American soul music singer|vocalist .
Life and career
Washington was raised in Harlem , New York City|New York . In 1956, she joined the vocal group The Hearts , then became s a solo (music)|solo musician|artist the following year. Washington had 16 rhythm and blues record chart|chart entries in 15 years, most of them during the 1960s. Most of her early work was released as single (music)|singles .
Washington initially sound recording and reproduction|recorded on Donald Shaw's Neptune Records record label|label . She established herself as a soul singer with two chart hit|hits in 1959: "The Time" ( United States|U.S. R& B Top 30) and "The Bells" (U.S. R& B Top 20). She followed up with the hit "Nobody Cares" (U.S. R& B Top 20) in 1961.
She next signed with ABC Records|ABC Paramount , but her two releases for the label were not hits, although the self-written "Let Love Go By" later became a notable Northern Soul single.
Washington then moved to Juggy Murray 's Sue Records in 1962, scoring her only entry on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 with 1963's "That's How Heartaches Are Made" (1963). Two years later, she hit again on the U.S. R& B Top 40|Top 10 with "Only Those In Love". Among her other Sue recordings were "I Can't Wait Until I See My Baby's Face", songwriter|written by Jerry Ragovoy , and "Careless Hands", penned by Billy Myles .
Washington revived her career in the early 1970s cover version|covering The Marvelettes ' "Forever", (number 30 R& B) as a duet (music)|duet with Don Gardner . Her solo release, "I've Got To Break Away", made number 73 on the R& B charts, after which the advent of disco led to a decline in her popularity.
Washington has never experienced great crossover recognition, although Dusty Springfield cited Washington as her all-time favorite singer.
Washington is still active as a live performer, appearing several times a year on the East Coast. She performed with the Enchanters at a Philadelphia-area show in March 2008, and in Baltimore in June 2008. Washington was among the 2008 honorees in Community Works' Ladies Singing the Blues music series.
Discography
''I've Got A Feeling (June 2005) Released by Stateside Records http://www.statesiderecords.comMany songs featured are on CD for the first time with this release.
A note on names
Baby Washington recorded several song s early in her career under the name "Jeanette Washington", which has led her to be confused with a younger funk vocalist who recorded under the Jeanette Washington|same name . Early in her career, Washington also recorded a song as a member of The Jaynetts . Below are singles recorded under the name Jeanette Washington:
The Jaynetts (feat. Jeanette Washington & The Hearts): "I Wanted To Be Free" / "Where Are You Tonight" (1958 J& S, 1765/6)
Baby Washington: "The Time" / "You Never Could Be Mine" (1959, Neptune 101)
Jeanette (Baby) Washington (with backing vocalist|background vocals by The De Vaurs): "Nobody Cares (About Me)" * / "Money's Funny" (March 1961, Neptune 122)
Jeanette (Baby) Washington: "Let Love Go By" / "My Time To Cry" (May 1961, ABC Paramount 10223)
Jeanette (Baby) Washington: "There You Go Again" / "Don't Cry, Foolish Heart" (September 1961, ABC Paramount 10245)
:* A-side and B-side|A-side Billboard (magazine)|Billboard /R& B #17 and Billboard Hot 100 #60
See also
Rhythm and Blues Foundation
List of soul musicians
List of 1960s one-hit wonders in the United States
References
Allmusic|class=artist|id=p5793/biography|pure_url=yes All Music Biography
http://koti.mbnet.fi/wdd/babywashington.htm Baby Washington singles
http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/bwashington.htm Justine "Baby" Washington via Soulful Kinda Music (includes complete discography)
http://www.oldies.com/artist-view/Baby-Washington.html Justine "Baby" Washington via oldies.com
Huston, Bruce. Baby Washington Part Two: Her Soul Years. Soul Survivor magazine #10 (Spring 1989; Toronto , Canada ). Washington clears up confusion with Jeanette Washington on page 15.
Persondata | NAME = Washington, Justine | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH = November 13, 1940 | PLACE OF BIRTH = | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Washington, Justine Category:American soul musicians Category:American female singers Category:1940 births Category:Living people Category:People from Bamberg County, South Carolina Category:Chess Records artists Category:Sue Records artists
