Sunday, March 4, 2012

Women's History Month Day 4 - Justine "Baby" Washington

Today we turn our ears to Justine "Baby" Washington.  She's long been in my top ten favorite soul singers.  




You know how it is when you find that one singer who seems to be singing your story?  It feels as if they're plugged into you heart and are singing it all just for you?  I think the best modern comparison I can think of would be the way people are generally affected by Adele.  It's like she jumps through the speakers and plucks the tears right out of your eyes.  That's how I feel about Baby Washington. And I'm not the only one.  In fact, Dusty Springfield once named Baby Washington as her all-time favorite singer. It seems that Washington managed to capture and perfectly express the feeling of being misunderstood and alone (a feeling all too common for LGBTQ folks).  As the songwriter for many of her own recordings, loneliness is the theme Justine Washington crafted for herself.  Her vocals have been described as "haunting" and otherworldly, but like so many truly exquisite artists, it's really difficult to find words to describe exactly what it is she does that wrenches your heart and nearly brings you to tears.

She was born in South Carolina but most of her best known recordings were made as part of the "uptown" New York soul scene of the early 60s.  The scene is characterized by intricate lush arrangements and artful productions.  She started in the mid-50s as the youngest member of the girl group The Hearts, which is how she earned the nickname "Baby".  After leaving the group, she launched her solo career with a couple of labels before she landed on Sue Records, where she scored her biggest hits and recorded her most celebrated songs.

Please take a few moments to listen to just what makes her so great.


This is an early solo record. HAND CLAPS!


She also recorded as "Jeanette"


This was her biggest hit.






Dusty covered a couple of Baby Washington records and this is one of them.


This is a nice version of a song that was a hit for Little Anthony and the Imperials.


I would like to close with what I consider to be an incredible video of Baby Washington in a sparkling top performing to the Knights of Columbus in Maryland in 2009. Skip to about 3 minutes. She performs her song "Nobody Cares" followed by "Leave me Alone". At a couple of points she hands over the mic to a few audience members who sing parts of the song. It's very touching. I sure would love to have her come visit us in the PNW.


- Post by Portland's DJ Action Slacks of Sugar Town

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