She began her musical career as a singer and received glowing reviews.
When she showed up at the Coriander restaurant on Manhattan’s Upper East Side in 1975, John S. Wilson’s Times called her “an astonishing performer”, singing “with a deep, powerful and beautifully controlled voice full of vivid colors as she transitions from low, sexy passages to open, lustful shouts”.
Virginia Mary Reddington was born on May 13, 1945 in Brooklyn and raised in the Bay Ridge section of the borough. Her father, Joseph, was a naval architect. Her mother, May (O’Brien) Reddington, was a teacher.
Virginia attended Fontavon Hall Academy in Brooklyn and graduated from St. Joseph’s College, also in Brooklyn, in 1966 with a degree in English.
She and Mr. Dawes — founders of folk-pop group The Circle, best known for their 1966 hit single “Red Rubber Ball,” written by Paul Simon and Bruce Woodley of The Seekers — married in 1979, blending their talents. She formed TwinStar Music and produced jingles
The couple also wrote the book, music and lyrics for “The Talk of the Town,” a show about the Algonquin Hotel’s legendary literary roundtable, which included Dorothy Parker, Robert Benchley and George S. Kaufman. First produced in 2004, He ran at the Bank Street Theater for nearly two years before being moved to the Algonquin Hotel’s Oak Room as a cabaret show.
John Simon reviewed the show for Bloomberg News, writing that its music and wit match the “contagious energy and sophistication of the real-life celebrities the show is based on.”
Dawes is also a collector of antique jewellery, and together with her husband (who took the photo) and others, published The Bakelite Jewelery Book (1988), with Corinne Davidov, Georgian Jewelery 1714-1830. (2007).