Toni Lynn Washington (born Dorothy Helen Leak, December 6, 1937, Southern Pines, North Carolina) is an American blues singer.(February 7, 2005). Toni Lynn Washington, in Full Swing, The Washington Post(June 29, 1998). The blues raises spirits at annual Quincy festival, Boston Globe ("Toni Lynn Washington is known as the First Lady of the Boston blues scene and was nominated as Best Female Artist of the Year for the 1998 WC Handy Awards.")
Musical career Washington took to music at an early age, singing with her school and church choirs at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Roxbury, NC. At the age of thirteen, her family moved to Boston in 1950, where she began to sing in clubs. The artist got married after graduating high school. Her husband was a Navy officer, which forced moves to Pensacola, Florida, Norfolk, Virginia, and other locations.
Once relocated in New Orleans, Louisiana, Washington's performances allowed her to sign with Kon-Ti Records. Her first single with the label Dear Diary (1966) made its way into the Billboard Hot 100 1966. In the early 1980's, the blues singer returned to Boston, Massachusetts, where she continued her musical career. Later in the decade, she was the lead singer for the band Boston Baked Blues.
In 1992, her and keyboard artist Bruce Bears of the Boston Baked Blues formed their own band. Three years later in 1995, she released her debut album Blues at Midnight. This was her first of four albums released over a decade.
She has had seven Blues Music Award nominations. Washington received the 1999 Boston Blues Festival Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2003 she released her fourth CD since 1997, and her first on the NorthernBlues label.
Albums Blues at Midnight (1995, Tone-Cool Records, a Rounder Records subsidiary) It's My Turn Now (1997, Tone-Cool Records)(August 23, 1997). Jazz and Blue Notes, Billboard Good Things (2000, Tone-Cool Records) Been So Long (2003, NorthernBlues Music)
Main band members Keyboards: Bruce Bears Guitar: Duke Robillard, Kevin Belz, and Mike Null Saxophone: Charles Langford, Gordon Beadle, and Doug James Trumpet: Scott Aruda Drums: Dave Jamrog and Mark Texeira Bass: Jesse Williams, Sven Larson and Steve Cuoco Record producer: Duke Robillard and Bruce Bears
Blues Music Award nominations 1999 Boston Blues Festival Lifetime Achievement Award 1999 "Outstanding Blues Album" 2003 "Soul-Blues Female Performer of the Year" 2004 "Soul-Blues Female Performer of the Year" 2005 "Soul-Blues Female Performer of the Year" Her previous albums for "Album of the Year"
References
External links Official website