BABY WASHINGTON

Justine “Baby” Washington combined a down-to-earth gospel sound with a stately uptown elegance. She also played the piano and was one of the few female artists of the early 1960s to write many of her own hits.

She was born on November 13, 1940, in Bamberg, South Carolina, but grew up in both Harlem and Lower Manhattan. At age 16, she was recruited by record executive Zell Sanders to sing with the Hearts, a female doo-wop group that Sanders managed and produced. The Hearts had just come off a sizable R&B hit, “Lonely Nights,” and needed a new lead singer. Washington recorded ten singles with the group, whose members nicknamed her “Baby” as she was the youngest.

By 1957, she was recording for Sanders’ J&S label as a soloist but left the following year to sign with another New York label, Neptune. Washington had her first two national R&B hits, “The Time” and “The Bells,” in 1959. She wrote both songs herself. Two years later, she wrote and recorded “Nobody Cares (About Me),” a #17 R&B hit that crossed over to the pop charts at #60. For unknown reasons, the label credit went to “Jeanette (Baby) Washington.”

Neptune went out of business in 1961, at which time Washington moved to ABC-Paramount. The label released two singles on her, both of which flopped. In 1962, Washington signed with the New York R&B independent, Sue Records, whose artist roster included Ike & Tina Turner.

New York City in the early ‘60s was a powerhouse of the emerging “uptown soul” sound, which incorporated violin-heavy orchestral arrangements. Label chief Juggy Murray envisioned Baby Washington as a star of uptown soul a la Chuck Jackson, the Drifters, and Ben E. King. She would, in fact, produce seven R&B hits for Sue, including a pair of top tens: “That’s How Heartaches Are Made” (1963) and “Only Those In Love” (1965).

When Juggy Murray closed Sue in 1967, he sold Washington’s contract and master recordings to Veep, a United Artists subsidiary whose roster included Garnet Mimms, Ivory Joe Hunter, and Little Anthony & The Imperials. Her two-year association with Veep resulted in little success, but a 1969 move to Cotillion produced the #35 R&B hit, “I Don’t Know.” Washington soon moved on again, to an unsuccessful stint at Chess. By 1973, she was on the Philadelphia-based Master label, for whom she had a pair of top forty R&B hits: “Forever” (a duet with Don Gardner) and “I’ve Got to Break Away.” Washington’s final chart entry was in 1975.

As the new century dawned, Baby Washington remained active, performing several times a year on the East Coast and on cruise ships. In 2004, she performed at the Prestatyn Soul Weekender in Wales. In 2008, Washington did shows in Philadelphia and Baltimore. That same year, she was an honoree in the Community Works’ Ladies Singing the Blues series.

Now in her 80s, Baby Washington is still in demand for live appearances, particularly in Europe.

Charted singles:

“The Time” (1959) R&B #22
“The Bells (On Our Wedding Day)” (1959) R&B #20
“Nobody Cares (About Me)” (as Jeanette “Baby” Washington, 1961) R&B #17, Pop #60
“Handful of Memories” (1962) Pop #116
“That’s How Heartaches Are Made” (1963) R&B #10, Pop #40
“Leave Me Alone” (1963) R&B #21
“Who’s Going to Take Care of Me” (as Justine Washington, 1964) R&B #31
“The Clock” (1964) R&B #36
“It’ll Never Be Over For Me” (1964) R&B #22, Pop #98
“Only Those In Love” (1965) R&B #10, Pop #73
“I Don’t Know” (1969) R&B #35
“Forever” (duet with Don Gardner, 1973) R&B #30
“I’ve Got to Break Away” (1973) R&B #32
“Can’t Get Over Losing You” (1975) R&B #88