The vocalist Dakota Staton, who has died in Manhattan aged 76, is hardly noted in the jazz history books and rarely mentioned by jazz fans. Though Staton, as the New York Times once put it, can be regarded as "a stylistic link between the earthiness of Dinah Washington and Big Maybelle and Chaka Khan's note-bending pop-funk iconoclasm", she was a direct and soulful blues-rooted artist who prioritised confessional simplicity above jazzy instrument-mimicking virtuosity. - The Guardian/US News/2007

"There's nothing I sing that doesn't have the blues in it somewhere," vocalist Dakota Staton told Patricia Smith of the Boston Globe.

"There's nothing I sing that doesn't have the blues in it somewhere," vocalist Dakota Staton told Patricia Smith of the Boston Globe.

Here I am rehearsing with co-producer/bassist Jamaladeen Tacuma at WRTI in Philly 02/2023 for the Dakota Project

Here I am rehearsing with co-producer/bassist Jamaladeen Tacuma at WRTI in Philly 02/2023 for the Dakota Project

THE DAKOTA STATON STORY

  • She was born in the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA on June 3, 1930
  • Dakota studied classical voice at the Filion School of Music in Pittsburgh, PA
  • Began singing as a teenager with the top band in Pittsburgh at the time, the Joe Wespary Orchestra
  • “Discovered” singing at the Baby Grand Club, in Harlem by the Director of Artists and Repertoire for Capital Records, Dave Cavanaugh and signed to Capitol Records
  • Her first single for Capitol was released in 1955. It was a bluesy, pop number called, “What Do You Know About Love?” which led to her being voted “Most Promising Newcomer” of the Year by DownBeat magazine
  • In 1957 Dakota Staton was catapulted to fame by the release of her first album, ‘The Late Late Show” on the Capitol label. It was an instant hit with the title song being a break-out favorite.
  • She was the first to record Errol Garner’s,” Misty” in 1957, almost two years prior to the Johnny Mathis release
  • During her decades long career Dakota Staton worked with Nelson Riddle, Benny Carter, George Shearing and Groove Holmes.
  • In 1958, after her marriage to trumpet player, composer and activist Talib Dawud, she converted to Islam. She changed her name legally to Aliyah Rabia but continued to perform as Dakota Staton
  • She recorded almost 30 critically acclaimed albums on various labels including Capitol, Columbia, Verve and Muse.
  • Dakota Staton is featured, along with Abbey Lincoln and others in the 2000 documentary, Jazz Women directed by Gabriella Morandi
  • In 2001 Staton was inducted into the Gallery of Stars at Pittsburgh’s Kelly-Strayhorn Theatre with a commemorative star on the sidewalk outside the theatre
  • On April 10, 2007, Dakota Staton died from a stroke at the Isabella Geriatric Center in Manhattan