GRAMMY-Winner Ledisi Announces For Dinah Deluxe Edition

Grammy-winning vocalist Ledisi expands her acclaimed salute to the legendary "Queen of the Blues" with For Dinah (Deluxe Edition), out on October 9th on Candid Records. Produced alongside longtime collaborator Rex Rideout and bassist Christian McBride, the project bridges Washington’s unmatched soulfulness and bold charisma with Ledisi’s own power as a best-of-generation interpreter of great Black American music.

This expanded edition deepens the celebration with four additional tracks, including brand-new renditions of "Nobody Knows the Way I Feel This Morning" and "Ill Wind (You're Blowing Me No Good)," alongside the recently released single "Teach Me Tonight" and a special Village Studios recording session version of Washington’s iconic smash "What a Difference a Day Made." Joined by world-class guests like Gregory Porter and Paul Jackson Jr., Ledisi swings with effortless authority and uninhibited soul, reaffirming Dinah Washington’s vital legacy and giving one of music's greatest trailblazers her flowers once again.

The new single “Noboby Knows the Wai I Feel This Morning” is out now. Listen Here.

The original album features standout collaborations, including a duet with Grammy-winning vocalist Gregory Porter and appearances by top-tier musicians like Paul Jackson Jr. and rising star Michael King.

Like every triumphantly gifted female singer who has transcended barriers, Ledisi is a child of Dinah Washington. “She gave me permission to move freely, create freely, be a woman in leadership, wear and say what I want,” explains Ledisi. “Before there was Aretha, there was Dinah. She deserves to be recognized in today’s music as well. So instead of asking me ‘Why Dinah?,’ you should be asking ‘Why not Dinah?’”

Born in New Orleans and shaped by the Bay Area, Ledisi has emerged as a leading voice in contemporary R&B. She’s earned a Grammy win, 14 nominations, and widespread acclaim for portraying her musical heroes on stage, record, and screen — including Mahalia Jackson in Selma and Remember Me. Her most recent Grammy nod was for Ledisi Sings Nina, a tribute praised by The New York Times for capturing both Nina Simone’s depth and Ledisi’s own stunning vocal range. As the critic Salamishah Tillet pointed out in their glowing profile, Ledisi Sings Nina lifts up “the diversity and depth of Simone’s musicianship and the breathtaking range and reach of Ledisi’s own voice.”

Ledisi describes her connection to Dinah Washington’s music as deeply personal, offering a space to fully embrace and express her femininity. “There’s a sensuality in this music,” she says, “in my fur, my curves, the tightness of my dress — and in how I move with the music.” Ultimately, For Dinah is Ledisi’s tribute to representation and resilience. She sees herself in Washington’s struggle for acceptance in a male-dominated industry, as a dark-skinned woman navigating similar challenges. “I felt her pain, her rejection,” Ledisi says. “This is where I come from — and this is my way of saying her name out loud.”

About Candid Records

From 1960-1963, founder, A&R man, and producer Nat Hentoff recorded over 30 extraordinary albums for the Candid Records label. One cannot underestimate the breadth of these recordings - from bebop to the avant-garde, to blues. Candid sat dormant for years until Black Lion Records founder and producer, Alan Bates, bought the label in 1989. The next phase of Candid Records is happening now. Since its relaunch in 2021 the label has reissued over 30 titles to high critical acclaim. Thanks to brilliant new releases, Candid has received four GRAMMY awards – 2024 winners the Count Basie Orchestra, 2023 winners Terri Lyne Carrington and Wayne Shorter, and 2022 winner Eliane Elias. Today’s Candid is not only committed to its legacy but looks forward to defining its future with the quality music that is synonymous with its elite heritage. Learn more at www.candidrecords.com