Born Ernestine Thomas in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1914, from the age of four was singing alongside her sanctified singer mother in church, and was by all accounts a childhood friend of Rosetta Tharpe. After working in domestic service, she married Frederick Washington in 1934, and moved to New Jersey where Frederick founded the Trinity Temple, later moving to Brooklyn, where he established the Washington Temple Church of God in Christ. 

Madame, later Sister, Ernestine was soloist in those churches and did most of her recording under the auspices of her husband’s churches. Gospel commentator Tony Heilbut said that “Her singular achievement was to wed sanctified bravura to the legato soul of her Baptist inspiration Roberta Martin”. As she became better known, she started to be called “The Songbird Of The East”. 

This 46-track 2-CD collection comprises A and B sides of her releases on the Regis, Jubilee, Manor and Groove labels from this era, including recordings with The Dixie Hummingbirds and Bunk Johnson’s jazz band, through to 1954, plus titles from her 1959 albums on Westminster “Gospel Singing In Washington Temple” and the Delden album “Showers Of Blessings”. 

Although she did not tour widely as a result of her church commitments, she was a popular and influential performer, and this is an enlightening showcase for her distinctive style of gospel.

CD 1
1. MY RECORD WILL BE THERE Sister Ernestine Washington (Regis S-102) 1943 
2. THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD Sister Ernestine Washington (Regis S-102) 1943 
3. I'M GOING BACK TO JESUS Sister Ernestine Washington (Regis S-104) 1943 
4. SOME THROUGH THE WATER AND THE FLOOD Sister Ernestine Washington (Regis S-104) 1943 
5. IF I COULD JUST MAKE IT IN Sister Ernestine Washington with the Dixie Humming Birds (Regis 1007) 1944 
6. SAVIOR DON'T PASS ME BY Sister Ernestine Washington with the Dixie Humming Birds (Regis 1007) 1944 
7. DOES JESUS CARE Sister Ernestine B. Washington (Jubilee 2501) 1946 
8. DOES JESUS CARE (ALT. TAKE) Sister Ernestine B. Washington (Jubilee 2501) 1946 
9. THE LORD WILL MAKE A WAY SOMEHOW Sister Ernestine B. Washington (Disc  6038) 1946 
10. WHERE COULD I GO BUT TO THE LORD Sister Ernestine B. Washington (Jubilee 2502) 1946 
11. GOD'S AMAZING GRACE Sister Ernestine B. Washington (Melodisc 1101) 1946 
12. O LORD, REMEMBER ME Ernestine B. Washington acc. By Heavenly Gospel Singers (Manor 105) 1946 
13. NEVER TURN BACK NO MORE Ernestine B. Washington acc. By Heavenly Gospel Singers (Manor 105) 1946 
14. JESUS PRAYED FOR YOU AND I Ernestine Washington and the Heavenly Gospel Singers (Manor 1025) 1946 
15. THE UNCLOUDY DAY Ernestine Washington and the Heavenly Gospel Singers (Manor 1025) 1946 
16. THE LORD WILL MAKE A WAY Mme. Ernestine Washington with The Southern Sons (Manor 1084) 1947 
17. I THANK YOU LORD Mme. Ernestine Washington with The Southern Sons (Manor 1084) 1947 
18. THE WILDEST CREATURE (THAT EVER LIVED) Sister Ernestine Washington  (Manor 1091) 1947 
19. WHAT ARE YOU RAISING YOUR CHILDREN FOR Sister Ernestine Washington  (Manor 1091) 1947 
20. WHAT COULD I DO Sister Ernestine Washington (Manor 1100) 1947 
21. GOD SHALL WIPE ALL TEARS AWAY Sister Ernestine Washington (Manor 1100) 1947 
22. BOUND FOR CANAAN LAND Sister Ernestine Washington (Manor 1122) 1947 
23. I'M GONNA LIVE THE LIFE I SING ABOUT Sister Ernestine Washington (Manor 1122) 1947 
24. PRAYER CHANGES THINGS Mme. Ernestine Washington (Arco 1207) 1947 
25. WE WILL WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY Mme. Ernestine Washington (Arco 1207) 1947 
26. JESUS IS ALL THE WORLD TO ME Sister Ernestine Washington (Manor 1160) 1947

CD 2
1. EACH DAY (I GROW A LITTLE BIT NEARER) Sister Ernestine Washington (Manor 1160) 1947 
2. HOLDING ON PT.1 Sister Ernestine Washington (Groove G-0019) 1954 
3. HOLDING ON PT. 2 Sister Ernestine Washington (Groove G-0019) 1954 
4. I THANK YOU LORD Sister Ernestine Washington   
5. WIPE ALL TEARS Sister Ernestine Washington   
6. J-E-S-U-S SPELLS JESUS Sister Ernestine Washington   
7. ADDRESS BY BISHOP WASHINGTON Sister Ernestine Washington   
8. I TRUST IN GOD Sister Ernestine Washington   
9. I'M TIRED AND WEARY/ PEACE IN THE VALLEY Sister Ernestine Washington   
10. THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD Sister Ernestine Washington   
11. HOLDIN' ON Sister Ernestine Washington   
12. JESUS IS THE ONE Sister Ernestine Washington   
13. COME YE DISCONSOLATE Sister Ernestine Washington   
14. I KNOW THE LORD WILL MAKE A WAY Sister Ernestine Washington   
Tracks 4-14 From the album “Gospel Singing In Washington Temple” (Westminster WP6089) 1959    
15. GOD LEADS HIS CHILDREN ALONG Sister Ernestine Washington   
16. YES, THERE'S ONE Sister Ernestine Washington   
17. BREATHE ON ME Sister Ernestine Washington   
18. STAND BY ME Sister Ernestine Washington   
19. I'M HIS CHILD Sister Ernestine Washington   
20. PENTECOSTAL RIVER Sister Ernestine Washington   
Tracks 15-20 from the album “Showers Of Blessings”  (Delden LPG-1000) 1959