This article is about soul vocalist Justine Washington, better known as Baby Washington. For the American educator, see Justine Wilkinson Washington. For the funk vocalist of a similar name, see Jeanette Washington.
Justine Washington (born October 13, 1940),[1] usually credited as Baby Washington, but credited on some early records as Jeanette (Baby) Washington, is an American soul musicvocalist, who had 16 BillboardR&Bchart entries in 15 years, most of them during the 1960s. Her biggest hit, "That's How Heartaches Are Made" in 1963, also entered the Top 40 on the BillboardHot 100.
In 1958, she signed to Donald Shaw's Neptune Records as a solo performer, and established herself as a soul singer with two hits in 1959: "The Time" (U.S. R&B No. 22) and "The Bells" (U.S. R&B No. 20).[1] She followed up with the hit "Nobody Cares" (U.S. R&B No. 17) in 1961.[1] Several of her singles on the Neptune and ABC labels were credited to Jeanette (Baby) Washington, which later led to confusion with an entirely different singer known as Jeanette Washington.[3]
She signed with ABC Paramount in 1961, but her two releases for the label were not hits, although the self-written "Let Love Go By" later became a notable Northern soul single. Washington then moved to Juggy Murray's Sue Records in 1962, scoring her only entry on the U.S. BillboardTop 40 with "That's How Heartaches Are Made" in 1963.[1] Two years later, she hit again on the U.S. R&B Top 10 with "Only Those In Love".[1] Among her other Sue recordings were "I Can't Wait Until I See My Baby's Face", co-written by Chip Taylor and Jerry Ragovoy, and "Careless Hands", penned by Billy Myles.[4]
Washington revived her career in the early 1970s coveringthe Marvelettes' "Forever" (No. 30 R&B) as a duet with Don Gardner.[1] Her solo release, "I've Got To Break Away", made number 73 on the R&B chart, after which the advent of disco led to a decline in her popularity.[1] She has never experienced great crossover recognition, although Dusty Springfield once cited Washington as her all-time favorite singer,[1] and recorded "That's How Heartaches Are Made" and "I Can't Wait Until I See My Baby's Face".[4]
Washington is still active as a live performer, appearing several times a year on the East Coast and performing on cruise ships. She also performed at the Prestatyn Soul Weekender festival in Wales in 2004.[5] She performed with the Enchanters at a Philadelphia-area show in March 2008, and in Baltimore in June 2008. Washington was among the 2008 honorees in Community Works' Ladies Singing the Blues music series.[4]
Discography
Chart singles
Note: Credited as Baby Washington unless stated otherwise.
^Baby Washington recorded several songs early in her career under the name "Jeanette Washington", which has led her to be confused with a younger funk vocalist who recorded under the same name. Early in her career, Washington also recorded a song as a member of The Jaynetts. Below are singles recorded under the name Jeanette Washington:
The Jaynetts (feat. Jeanette Washington & the Hearts): "I Wanted To Be Free" / "Where Are You Tonight" (1958 J&S, 1765/6)
Baby Washington: "The Time"/"You Never Could Be Mine" (1959, Neptune 101)
Jeanette B. Washington: "Medicine Man"/"Tears Fell" (August 1960, Neptune 120)
Huston, Bruce. Baby Washington Part Two: Her Soul Years. Soul Survivor magazine No. 10 (Spring 1989; Toronto, Ontario, Canada). Washington clears up confusion with Jeanette Washington on page 15.
