At the end of the Second World War, economics forced the big bands to trim their once great size and thus, the Jump Blues combo was born. Between 1946-1954, rhythm and blues laid the tracks for what was to become Rock n’ Roll. So how come, 75 years later, this vibrant and influential music is still so unknown to so many? Matt The Cat is going to change that with the radio program, “Juke In The Back.” These were the records that you couldn’t hear on the jukebox in the front of the establishment. To hear all this great 1950s rhythm & blues, you had to go to “Juke In The Back.”
https://www.jukeintheback.org
Episode #595 – Dinah Washington, Pt. 2 – 1947-49
Air Week: September 27-October 3, 2021
Dinah Washington, Pt. 2 – 1947-49
Dinah Washington was more than just the “Queen of The Jukeboxes,” “Queen Of The Blues” and any other prestigious but vacant title you could pin on her. Dinah was the real deal. As one of the best selling artists of the 20th Century, Dinah was no pop sensation or flash in the pan. She was a consummate artist, who developed a playful, yet serious style of phrasing all her own. This week, Matt The Cat continues to honor the great Dinah Washington with part 2 of our multi-part series on “The Queen.” Part 2 picks up in 1947 and begins with Dinah’s first charting hit for Mercury Records, the Fats Waller tune, “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” From there, she had a string of hits that peaks in 1948 with “Am I Asking Too Much,” her first #1 record. Her second #1 comes in 1949 with the jumpin’ “Baby Get Lost.” We’ll also hear Dinah’s interpretation of other classics, “I Sold My Heart To The Junkman” and “It’s Too Soon To know.” Matt The Cat focuses on many Dinah Washington singles that rarely receive airplay these days as well as “Long John Blues,” which continues to be heard and make heads turn. We leave Dinah in 1949, but will pick it up next week with part 3 of our mammoth “Juke In The Back” series on Dinah Washington.
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