Jackie Washington

Jackie Washington (November 12, 1919 — June 27, 2009) 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.

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. Washington played with saxophonist Freddie Purser for many years during the 1970s and 1980s at the Windsor and Royal taverns in Hamilton. In 1980 Washington played the part of the janitor in the film adaptation of the play: Hank Williams: The Show He Never Gave. He also appeared in the 2005 television documentary: I Want To Be Happy: The Jackie Washington Story.

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.

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. In 2002 he was inducted into the Canadian Jazz & Blues Hall of Fame. He was also honoured through the establishment of the Jackie Washington Rotary Park in Hamilton in 2004.