Justine Washington
Encyclopedia
Justine "Baby" Washington (born November 13, 1940, Bamberg
, South Carolina
) is an American
soul music
vocalist.
, New York
. In 1956, she joined the vocal group The Hearts, then became s a solo
artist
the following year. Washington had 16 rhythm and blues
chart
entries in 15 years, most of them during the 1960s. Most of her early work was released as singles
.
Washington initially recorded
on Donald Shaw's Neptune Records
label
. She established herself as a soul singer with two hits in 1959: "The Time" (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 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 10 with "Only Those In Love". Among her other Sue recordings were "I Can't Wait Until I See My Baby's Face", written
by Jerry Ragovoy
, and "Careless Hands", penned by Billy Myles
.
Washington revived her career in the early 1970s covering
The Marvelettes
' "Forever", (number 30 R&B) as a 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.
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 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:
Bamberg, South Carolina
Bamberg is a city in and the county seat of Bamberg County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 3,733 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bamberg is located at ....
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
vocalist.
Life and career
Washington was raised in HarlemHarlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. In 1956, she joined the vocal group The Hearts, then became s a solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
artist
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
the following year. Washington had 16 rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
entries in 15 years, most of them during the 1960s. Most of her early work was released as singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
.
Washington initially recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
on Donald Shaw's Neptune Records
Neptune Records
Neptune Records was a record label founded by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff in 1969. They featured artists such as The O'Jays, The Three Degrees and Billy Paul....
label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. She established herself as a soul singer with two hits in 1959: "The Time" (U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 Paramount
ABC Records
ABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H....
, but her two releases for the label were not hits, although the self-written "Let Love Go By" later became a notable Northern Soul
Northern soul
Northern soul is a music and dance movement that emerged from the British mod scene, initially in northern England in the late 1960s. Northern soul mainly consists of a particular style of black American soul music based on the heavy beat and fast tempo of the mid-1960s Tamla Motown sound...
single.
Washington then moved to Juggy Murray
Juggy Murray
Henry 'Juggy' Murray Jr. was an influential rhythm and blues music producer....
's Sue Records in 1962, scoring her only entry on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
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 10 with "Only Those In Love". Among her other Sue recordings were "I Can't Wait Until I See My Baby's Face", written
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
by Jerry Ragovoy
Jerry Ragovoy
Jordan "Jerry" Ragovoy was an American songwriter and record producer.His best-known composition "Time Is on My Side" was made famous by The Rolling Stones, although it had been recorded earlier by Kai Winding and Irma Thomas...
, and "Careless Hands", penned by Billy Myles
Billy Myles
William Myles Nobles , known as Billy Myles, was an American R&B songwriter active in the 1950s and 1960s. He is best known for " All My Love" recorded by Jackie Wilson , and "Have You Ever Loved A Woman" recorded by Freddie King , then Eric Clapton .-History:Billy Myles specialised in love ballads...
.
Washington revived her career in the early 1970s covering
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
The Marvelettes
The Marvelettes
The Marvelettes were an American singing girl group on the Tamla label. Motown's first successful female vocal group, the Marvelettes are most notable for recording the company's first #1 Pop hit, "Please Mr...
' "Forever", (number 30 R&B) as a duet
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
with Don Gardner
Don Gardner
Don Gardner is an American rhythm and blues drummer and vocalist.Born in Philadelphia, Gardner had formed his own group, the Sonotones, in 1953, but teamed up with Dee Dee Ford in the early 1960s to have his biggest successes. Their biggest hit was "I Need Your Lovin'," a Top 20 hit in 1962...
. Her solo release, "I've Got To Break Away", made number 73 on the R&B charts, after which the advent of disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
led to a decline in her popularity.
Washington has never experienced great crossover recognition, although Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'BrienSources use both Isabel and Isobel as the spelling of her second name. OBE , known professionally as Dusty Springfield and dubbed The White Queen of Soul, was a British pop singer whose career extended from the late 1950s to the 1990s...
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.com [Many songs featured are on CD for the first time with this release.]
A note on names
Baby Washington recorded several songSong
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s early in her career under the name "Jeanette Washington", which has led her to be confused with a younger funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
vocalist who recorded under the same name
Jeanette Washington
Jeanette Washington is a funk vocalist best known as a member of the band Parliament.Washington appeared as a background singer on recordings by James Brown in 1975. That year she joined Parliament with Debbie Wright, becoming the first female members of the group...
. Early in her career, Washington also recorded a song as a member of The Jaynetts
The Jaynetts
The Jaynetts were a Bronx, New York girl group who became one-hit wonders with "Sally Go 'Round the Roses", which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963.-Beginnings:...
. 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 B. Washington: "Medicine Man" / "Tears Fell" (August 1960, Neptune 120)
- Jeanette (Baby) Washington: "Too Late" / "Move On" (December 1960, Neptune 121)
- Jeanette (Baby) Washington (with background vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
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-sideA-side and B-sideA-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
BillboardBillboard (magazine)Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
/R&B #17 and Billboard Hot 100 #60
See also
- Rhythm and Blues FoundationRhythm and Blues FoundationThe Rhythm and Blues Foundation is an independent American nonprofit organization dedicated to the historical and cultural preservation of rhythm and blues music....
- List of soul musicians
- List of 1960s one-hit wonders in the United States