For those of us who come after these great artists, it is our responsibility to continue to preserve their work to share with the world and the generations that follow.  The telling of these stories have not only met with "box office and critical" success but with a renewed respect and interest in these musicians.  These are movies we want to see.  We want to know who these legends were and what made them so passionate about their art.

Diana Ross in her breakout performance in Lady Sings the Blues, the Billie Holiday Story.  Nominated for five Oscars, and winning a Golden Globe and BAFTA Awards, led the direction and dedication to showcasing where the music came from.  Lynn Whitfield, two time Emmy winner for Outstanding Lead Actress in a miniseries for the Josephine Baker Story in1991 proved that our music as well as our artists were just as diversified and intriguing as the music they performed.  The movie also picked up one of three Golden Globe nominations.  And most recently giving honor and paying tribute to a legend, Jamie Foxx in the role of Ray Charles which awarded him numerous awards including an Academy Award, BET, Golden Globe and Image Award for Best Actor. 

Jes-Us Productions is continuing the tradition of highlighting the contributions, triumphs and most importantly the music of the legends of Pop Music, Jazz and Blues by bringing the Dinah Washington Story, "Queen Dinah" to the big screen.  The life of Dinah Washington is the life of many musicians of her time.  Her music was met with many accolades and included working with many talented artists, producers and arrangers. 

Born Ruth Lee Jones on August 24, 1924 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, a natural musician and singer, Dinah played piano and sang in the Sallie Mae church choir.  Although Dinah's family pushed her into the Gospel arena, Dinah knew that her journey was in pop music and Blues and decided not to mix the two.  After joining the Lionel Hampton Band in 1943, Dinah's star was perched firmly upon her head and she became one of the best popular artists of her time.  In fact her decision to sing the popular music, jazz and blues she loved would have afforded her the title of crossover artist today.  The seven times married Dinah died of an accidental diet pill overdose on December 14, 1963.

Jes-Us Productions will be casting a current R&B contemporary artist as Dinah and will begin auditions for supporting roles this summer.  The movie will be shot on location in Detroit, Chicago and New York over a six month period.  Jes-Us Productions is currently accepting financial investor inquiries to support its existing financing. 

The Dinah Washington Story is a story worth telling.  Her life was filled with inner turmoil, self esteem issues, relationship drama but from that life also came a woman whose voice and poise touched and moved us, made us dance and sing and gave us moments of pure delight.