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This is another beautiful and striking love song enjoyed by cultures all around the planet. A bit of history and trivia: Did you know that this song was actually written by Maria Grevor, who was the first successful Mexican woman songwriter, and the original title was “What a Difference a Day Made”? The English lyrics/translation of the song was written by Stanley Adams and the first successful recording was by the Dorsey Brothers in 1934. In 1964 came Aretha Franklin’s version which was also a hit, followed by Esther Phillips rendition which too became a big hit. Dinah Washington was known for her eccentric style and glamour - she was referred to as one of the most outrageous of the bunch - a pistol, who didn’t care what others thought. She came to a recording session in a full-length mink fur and sporting a blond wig (unheard of by African American women at that time). She was initially referred to as the Queen of the Blues, although she could sing anything and crossed many genres (jazz, R&B, pop, even country music, and started out as a gospel singer). After she “crossed over” musically, she even became known as the first Queen of rhythm and blues. Dinah was known for her perfect pitch, timing, enunciation and phrasing. She was also an accomplished pianist who started out as a choir director in her church. Aretha Franklin was known to have said that she “absolutely loved Dinah”, and there does seem to be some Dinah influence there. Dinah herself was highly influenced by Billie Holiday and Bessie Smith who she absolutely loved. She also came to love singers like Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles, and wanted to emulate the glamour, elegance and soulfulness of these huge stars. And, she did! She loved the sound of “strings” and was very particular about the way the strings played and sounded as you can hear when listening to this song. Previously known as Ruth Jones who got her first break with the Lionel Hampton Band where she stayed for 3 years. When with the band, her voice was powerful enough to be heard above the brass instruments. Powerful! During her tenure with Hampton’s Orchestra she was only allowed to sing 2 songs per night which for her became totally unacceptable, thus; causing her to launch her solo career - and folks took notice! By 1948 she was earning enough money to buy the family a home; which at that time was phenomenal to see a Black woman in Chicago earning enough money to invest in real estate. She was a huge celebrity! In fact, Dinah was the first black woman whose music was in the Howard Johnson Hotels juke boxes (in the 1950s). Dinah would cover traditional white pop music and even country music as a way of introducing it to black audiences and would later bring blues as well as rhythm and blues to white audiences. “What a Difference a Day Makes” was Dinah’s first big “cross-over” hit, and brought her to the attention of many more music lovers. She eventually had 27 top ten R&B hits - making her one of the most popular singers of her period. Her recording of “What a Difference a Day Makes” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. There is now a Dinah Washington School of Jazz. She has earned numerous awards and accolades - including induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as well. Dinah, struggling with weight issues, eventually died in 1963 at the young age of 39 years from an overdose of diet pills and alcohol. She was discovered transpired by her 7th husband. She will forever be loved by people of all cultures around the world. During this Women’s History Month, I celebrate the achievements of Ms. Dinah Washington, who was “the first” in a number of her accomplishments! Additional Information: ___________________________________________________ If you are looking for a classy top-notch vocalist who can inspire and entertain people of all ages and backgrounds, Sabrina is a perfect fit! She is a versatile vocalist who offers a variety of booking options as listed on this flyer. Her tribute shows to Billie Holiday and Nat King Cole are golden and enjoyed by all. Please visit her website for reviews and more information. While you are there, take a quick listen to choice tracks from her most recent CD. You can also listen to Sabrina’s music at & . email: info@ Booking #: 916-678-1465 or 770-374-3035 Booking Options: - Sabrina solo with instrumental tracks - Sabrina with pianist/keyboardist accompaniment - Sabrina with Duo, Trio, Quartet or Big Band - (Virtual Shows Available) “Sabrina The Songstress's Make Up Artist“ - Jackie Jordan #dinahwashington #whatadifferenceadaymakes #mariagrever #bigbandmusic
