Jackie Washington

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Jackie Washington
Also known as Jack
Born November 12, 1919
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Origin Canada
Died June 27, 2009 (aged 89)
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Genres [Jazz(Jazz music),[blues music
Occupations singer/songwriter
Years active 1930–2009
Labels Borealis Records
Associated acts The Washingtons,
Scarlett, Washington & Whiteley
Website www.jackiewashington.com

Jackie Washington (November 12, 1919 — June 27, 2009[1]) was a Canadian blues musician.

Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Washington became Canada's first black disk jockey in 1948, at CHML in Hamilton.[2][3]

Washington came from a large family of musicians, including his brothers Reg (Hammond B3) and Dickie (drums). In the 1930s, he was one of the Washington Brothers, who played clubs and nightspots until his brother's tragic death by drowning.[4] Washington played in various coffeehouses while also working as a railroad porter and later at Fort Erie racetrack. Following a divorce he played far less and was an alcoholic. Following a recovery Washington played with saxophonist Freddie Purser for many years during the 1970s and 1980s at the Windsor and Royal taverns in Hamilton. As a solo artist he appeared at Hamilton`s Festival of Friends a record 29 years. In 1980 Washington played the part of the janitor in the film adaptation of the play: Hank Williams: The Show He Never Gave.[5] He also appeared in the 2005 television documentary: I Want To Be Happy: The Jackie Washington Story.[6]

His first release as a solo blues artist was Blues and Sentimental in June 1976. In addition to his own albums, Washington appeared on recordings by Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, Joni Mitchell and Gordon Lightfoot. He had also been a regular performer at many Canadian folk and blues festivals, several of which have named awards in his honour. Washington was well known for having a repertoire of some 1300 blues, folk and jazz songs.[7] A diabetic, he lost a leg to amputation and suffered other heath issues, yet continued to perform. In later years he was abused by his wife and son. His follow musicians arranged a living trust starting with a tribute concert at the Tivoli Theatre in Hamilton. Featured artists were Jeff Healey, Garnet Rogers and Tom Wilson among others. Jackie then lived in a retirement home until his death. The accordence with his will his vast music sheets, photographs and videos were donated to the music department at McMaster University.

He was nominated for a Juno Award in 1993 for Best Roots & Traditional Album, along with Ken Whiteley and Mose Scarlett, for their album Where Old Friends Meet. In 1995 Washington was inducted into Hamilton's Gallery of Distinction.[8] In 2002 he was inducted into the Canadian Jazz & Blues Hall of Fame.[9] He was also honoured through the establishment of the Jackie Washington Rotary Park in Hamilton in 2004.[10]

Discography

  • Blues and Sentimental (Knight II, 1976, review[11])
  • Where Old Friends Meet (Borealis, 1991) (with Mose Scarlett and Ken Whiteley)[12]
  • Jackie Washington and Friends in Concert on December 4, 1994 (Sound of Jazz Concerts, 1994[13])
  • Keeping Out of Mischief (Borealis, 1995, reviews[11][14])[12]
  • Three by Three (Borealis, 1995; foregoing is one of the 3 CDs in this set) (with Mose Scarlett and Ken Whiteley)[12]
  • Midnight Choo Choo (Borealis, 1998, reviews[11][14])
  • We'll Meet Again (Borealis, 1999) (with Mose Scarlett and Ken Whiteley)
  • Sitting on a Rainbow (Borealis, 2003) (with Mose Scarlett and Ken Whiteley)

Songs in other projects

Awards

  • 1984 Hamilton Arts Award
  • 1986 The Jackie Washington Award: Northern Lights Festival Boreal (NLFB), Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
  • 1991 Lifetime Achievement Award, Ontario Arts Council
  • 1995 inducted into the Gallery of Distinction, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
  • 1998 Blues With A Feeling Award: Maple Blues Awards (The Toronto Blues Society's Lifetime Achievement Award)
  • 2001 Estelle Klein Lifetime Achievement Award, Ontario Council of Folk Festivals
  • 2002 inducted into the Canadian Jazz & Blues Hall of Fame
  • 2003 honorary Doctorate in Humanities, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario

See also

  • Strecker, James (1988). Talks with Jackie Washington. Image Publishing. ISBN 978-0-919357-57-0. 
  • Strecker, James (1996). More Than A Blues Singer: Jackie Washington Tells His Story. Mini Mocho Press. ISBN 978-0-921980-13-1. 

References

  1. ↑ Jackie Washington: 1919-2009. Hamilton Spectator, June 27, 2009.
  2. ↑ p. 4, bio in: Folk Prints Fall 2001. Retrieved 11-01-2009.
  3. ↑ Jackie Washington article, in the: Encyclopedia of Music in Canada. Retrieved 11-01-2009.
  4. ↑ Tennant, James, "Forever Jackie", in: Hamilton Magazine. Retrieved 15-06-2012.
  5. ↑ Hank Williams: The Show He Never Gave at Answers.com. Retrieved 10-01-2009.
  6. ↑ I Want To Be Happy at Telefilm Canada
  7. ↑ Budd, Barbara (2009-06-29). "Obit: Jackie Washington". As It Happens, CBC Radio One. Retrieved 2009-08-29. 
  8. ↑ Jackie Washington profile at the Hamilton Gallery of Distinction. Retrieved 25-10-2008.
  9. ↑ National Jazz Awards 2002 article at Billboard. Retrieved 10-01-2009.
  10. ↑ Rotary Club of Hamilton newsletter (21-10-2004). Retrieved 24-01-2009.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Kidney, David (2003). "(Review) Jackie Washington". Green Man Review (Midwinters Night Publishing). Retrieved 11-01-2009. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Year of release refers to year of original release on Pyramid Records. Later re-released by Borealis Records, subsequent to its formation in 1996. See Jackie Washington Discography at The Encyclopedia of Music in Canada.
  13. ↑ Canadian Jazz Archive Online, Jackie Washington biography
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Wilburn, Gene (1999). "Jackie Washington". Northern Journey Online. Retrieved 11-01-2009. 

External links

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