Toni Lynn Washington

Toni Lynn Washington
Photo by Tom Beetz
Photo by Tom Beetz
Background information
Birth nameDorothy Helen Leak
Born (1937-12-06) December 6, 1937 (age 87)
Southern Pines, North Carolina, United States
GenresBlues, R&B, jazz
OccupationSinger-songwriter
InstrumentVocals
Years active1980–present
LabelsNorthernBlues
WebsiteMyspace page
Toni Lynn Washington in Stockholm Sweden May 2016

Toni Lynn Washington (born Dorothy Helen Leak, December 6, 1937, Southern Pines, North Carolina) is an American blues singer.[1][2]

Musical career

She took to music at an early age, singing with her school and church choirs.

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.

Albums

  • Blues at Midnight (1995, Tone-Cool Records, a Rounder Records subsidiary)
  • It's My Turn Now (1997, Tone-Cool Records)[3]
  • Good Things (2000, Tone-Cool Records)
  • Been So Long (2003, NorthernBlues Music)

Main band members

  • Keyboards: Bruce Bears
  • Guitar: Duke Robillard, Kevin Belz, and Mike Null
  • Saxophone: Chuck Langford, Gordon Beadle, and Doug James
  • Trumpet: Scott Aruda
  • Drums: Dave Jamrog and Mark Texeira
  • Bass: Jesse Williams, Sven Larson and Steve Cuoco
  • Record producer: Duke Robillard and Bruce Bears

Blues Music Award nominations

  • 2003, 2004 and 2005 "Soul-Blues Female Performer of the Year"
  • Her previous albums for "Album of the Year"

References

  1. ^ (February 7, 2005). Toni Lynn Washington, in Full Swing, The Washington Post
  2. ^ (June 29, 1998). The blues raises spirits at annual Quincy festival, Boston Globe ("Toni Lynn Washington is known as the First Lady of the Boston blues scene and was nominated as Best Female Artist of the Year for the 1998 WC Handy Awards.")
  3. ^ (August 23, 1997). Jazz and Blue Notes, Billboard