Oscar Washington
Oscar Douglas Washington (c. 1912 – 2004/05) was an American songwriter, guitarist, school teacher, and record label owner. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he became a prominent figure in the jazz and rhythm and blues genres. Washington is best known for co-writing the classic "Night Train," which became a number 1 R&B hit in 1952. He worked as a school teacher and guitarist in St. Louis, Missouri, where he collaborated with saxophonist Jimmy Forrest on the song.
Washington recorded under the pseudonym Faith Douglass and founded the Ballad record label in 1953, releasing a series of doo-wop singles by the Swans. He played a crucial role in the early career of Chuck Berry by persuading him to record his first track with Joe Alexander & the Cubans. Washington's contributions to music are extensive, with 70 compositions credited to his name.
In addition to his musical endeavors, Washington was a high school chemistry teacher and ran a publishing company. He died under mysterious circumstances around 2004 in St. Louis, Missouri, aged 92 or 93. His remains were discovered in 2005, leading to an investigation that could not determine the cause of death.
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