Oscar Washington facts for kids

Oscar Douglas Washington (born around 1912, died 2004 or 2005) was a talented American musician. He was a songwriter, guitarist, and even a school teacher. Oscar Washington also owned a record label. He is famous for helping to write the classic jazz and rhythm and blues song "Night Train". He also played an important role in the early career of the legendary musician Chuck Berry.

Musical Journey and Impact

Early Career in St. Louis

By the early 1950s, Oscar Washington was living in St. Louis, Missouri. He worked there as a school teacher. He was also a skilled guitarist. In St. Louis, he teamed up with a saxophonist named Jimmy Forrest. Together, they worked on the song "Night Train".

The Hit Song "Night Train"

"Night Train" became a huge hit in 1952. It reached number 1 on the R&B charts. Most people agree that Oscar Washington wrote the lyrics for this popular song. He also recorded music himself. For some of his recordings, he used the name Faith Douglass.

Starting a Record Label

In 1953, Oscar Washington started his own small record company. It was called Ballad Records. This company was based in St. Louis. Ballad Records released several songs by a group called the Swans. These songs were in the doo-wop style. They became quite popular in the local area.

Working with Chuck Berry

Oscar Washington heard a new guitarist named Chuck Berry playing in clubs. Berry was not yet famous. Washington convinced Berry to make his first record. Berry joined another group called Joe Alexander & the Cubans. They released a calypso song called "Oh Maria" in 1954. Oscar Washington helped write this song. Some people think Chuck Berry played guitar on the record. However, Berry later said he was not involved.

Later Years in Music

Even though Washington did not continue working with Chuck Berry, he kept releasing records. He put out occasional songs on his Ballad label until the late 1950s. Later, from 1966 to 1968, he brought his Ballad record label back. He released music for groups like The Gifts and The Citations. In the late 1960s, he also worked with another small label called SaintMo. This label released several songs, but they did not become very successful.

Songwriting Achievements

Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) is an organization that tracks songs. They credit Oscar Washington with writing 70 different songs. One of his most famous compositions is "Night Train".

Later Life

Oscar Washington passed away around 2004 or 2005. He was about 93 years old.