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 #598 – Dinah Washington, Pt. 5 – 1954-59
Air Week: October 18-24, 2021
Dinah Washington, Pt. 5 – 1954-59
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 the final installment of our 5 part series. Part 5 picks up in early 1954 and follows Dinah’s great slew of hits through the beginning of 1959 and her best remembered tune, “What A Difference A Day Makes.” During this period, most of Dinah’s hits learn towards the pop side of things, although she won’t crossover and have a pop hit until “What A Difference A Day Makes” in ’59. She scores with her own rendition of established hits with “Dream,” “Teach Me Tonight” and “I Concentrate On You” and delivers a strong blues showing with “My Man’s An Undertaker” and “Big Long Slidin’ Thing.”. Biographer Nadine Cahodas returns to help us wrap up the series on Dinah by shedding some light on a few major songs as well as her untimely death. Matt The Cat is proud of have dedicated 5 programs to the still reigning “Queen,” Dinah Washington.
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