Billboard magazine notes that with no less than 55 hit singles, which
include "Don't Make Me Over", "Anyone Who Had A Heart", "I Say A Little Prayer".
"Do You Know The Way To San Jose", "I'll Never Fall In Love
Again", among many other classics, the legendary
Dionne Warwick is the second most charted female of the past 40
years. As the voice behind a decade of classic tunes written with
her in mind by the famed team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David,
Dionne established herself as an international superstar in the
60s and through an incredible body of recorded work that now
stretches to over 40 albums, the golden lady with the recognizable
voice has continued to thrill audiences from Rome to Rio, London
to Los Angeles and from New York to Nairobi.
Dionne's association with Bacharach & David began in 1962. In
all, they racked up 30 hit singles and close to 20 best-selling
albums during their first decade of gold. Dionne's music
transcended race, culture and musical boundaries with a soulful
blend of pop, gospel, and R&B. By making her 1963 debut
performance, where she was introduced by the legendary
Marlene Dietrich at The Olympia Theater in Paris, Dionne also
became the first black female pop and soul singer to achieve
international stardom. She was also the first black female
performer to appear before the Queen of England at the Royal
Command Performance in 1968, and since that time, Dionne has
performed before numerous kings, queens, presidents, and heads of
state all over the world.
Her recordings of tunes like "A House
is Not a Home" "Alfie", "Theme from Valley of
the Dolls" and "The April
Fools" also made Dionne Warwick a pioneer as one of
the first female artists to popularize classic movie themes. And
as all diehard Warwick fans know, Dionne made her own film debut
in 1968 in the movie "Slaves", making her the first
contemporary black female recording artist to do so, once again
following the footsteps of one of her she-roes, the inimitable
Lena Home.
Through out the 80's, Dionne collaborated with many of her musical
peers including Johnny Mathis Mathis, Smokey Robinson, Luther
Vandros and others. Working with Stevie Wonder, Dionne was the
music coordinator for the film and Academy Award winning
soundtrack album "The Women in Red". She was one of the
key participants in the all-star charity single "We are the
World" and performed at "Live Aid" in 1984.
In 1985, Dionne reunited with producer Burt Bacharach and teamed
up with longtime friends Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, and Elton
John to record "That's What Friends are
For" with proceeds from the LP sales being donated to
the American Foundation for Aids Research (AmFar). In 1990, she
joined forces with a number of her Arista label mates to raise
over $2.5 Million for various Aids organizations at the
star-studded Arista Records 15 Year Anniversary Celebration
"That's What Friends Are For" benefit at New York's
Radio City Music Hall.
The recipient of countless awards, Dionne's status as a musical
icon and humanitarian is legendary. As the U.S. Ambassador for
health during the Reagan administration, Dionne devoted countless
hours to a wide range of humanitarian causes throughout the world.
With her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, she continues to
work tirelessly with various organizations dedicated to empowering
and inspiring others. In 1997, she was awarded the "Luminary
Award" by the American Society of Young Musicians and the
same year, she joined General Colin Powell in celebrating the 10th
Anniversary of "Best Friends" program, an abstinence and
character-building program for young women.
As a women who has inspired and empowered millions through her
music, performances, and work as a humanitarian, nothing seems
impossible for Dionne. With a warm smile, she reflects that she's
always remembered the words of wisdom imparted by her grandfather
who told her many years ago, "If you can think it, you can do
it"! With a life filled with accomplishment and achievement,
Dionne Warwick can proudly say she has and will continue to adhere
this wisdom.
DIONNE WARWICK
