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Toni Lynn Washington | |
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 Photo by Tom Beetz | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Dorothy Helen Leak December 6, 1937 Southern Pines, North Carolina, United States |
| Genres | Blues, R&B, jazz |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Labels | NorthernBlues |
| Website | Myspace page |
Toni Lynn Washington (born Dorothy Helen Leak, December 6, 1937, Southern Pines, North Carolina) is an American blues singer. [1] [2]
Washington took to music at an early age, singing with her school and church choirs at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Roxbury, NC [3] . 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. [4]
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. [4]
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.
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