Dinah Washington, BESSIE Smith, Otis Spann, and Etta James are all renowned blues singers from the Washington area. DINAH Washington was an American singer and pianist who had a career spanning from the 1940s to the 1960s. BESSIE Smith was an American blues singer who was active in the 1920s and 1930s. Otis Spann was an American blues musician and singer who was active in the 1950s and 1960s. Etta James was an American singer who had a career spanning from the 1950s to the 2000s. All four of these blues singers have made significant contributions to the blues genre and have left a lasting legacy.