orig. Ruth Lee Jones
born Aug. 29, 1924, Tuscaloosa, Ala., U.S.
died Dec. 14, 1963, Detroit, Mich.
U.S. singer.
Washington sang in church choirs as a child. She joined Lionel Hampton 's band in 1943, embarking on a solo career in 1946. Her recordings encompassed a wide variety of idioms including rhythm and blues , jazz , and country music ; her "What a Difference a Day Makes" (1959) was a pop hit. Known as "Queen of the Blues," she combined precise diction and intonation with an alternately gentle and brassy vocal timbre, and her voice was remarkable for its clarity and projection. She had remarkable vocal control. Even after she crossed over to the popular (pop) music market, in which she had her greatest commercial success, Washington retained many of her earlier fans because of her passionate, supple style.