Dee Dee Bridgewater is a legendary American jazz singer. Dee Dee was forced to seek recognition and fulfillment away from her homeland. At the age of 30, she came to conquer Paris, and she managed to realize her plans in France.
The artist was imbued with French culture. Paris was definitely the singer's "face". Here she started life from scratch. After Dee Dee received recognition and created her own ensemble, she moved to America.
Dee Dee Bridgewater made America not only accept and recognize itself, but also celebrate its talent with the highest musical awards. The fate of Dee Dee can not be called easy, but as they say: "It's hard to learn - it's easy to fight."
The jazz performer is one of the best vocalists of the last century. Dee Dee is the owner of two statuettes of the Grammy Award (1998, 2011) and the Tony Award (1975). Isn't this a confirmation that we have a real nugget in front of us?
Childhood and youth Dee Dee Bridgewater
Dee Dee Bridgewater was born on May 27, 1950 in Memphis. The girl spent her childhood in Flint, Michigan. Dee Dee's childhood was connected with music.
Her mother adored the work of Ella Fitzgerald. The house often sounded compositions of a famous performer.
Dee Dee Bridgewater grew up listening to Ella's voice. Interestingly, the girl's father played the trumpet professionally, which only contributed to the formation of musical taste.
Papa Dee Dee was not only a first-class trumpet player, but also a teacher whose students included Charles Lloyd and George Coleman.
Like all children, the girl attended high school. She was a capable student. Already at school, Dee Dee found the use of musical skills - she organized her own group in which she sang solo parts.
However, Dee Dee received a serious experience of being on stage thanks to her participation in the ensemble where her father worked. At the end of 1960, the girl traveled all over Michigan with the ensemble. Even then she was as a singer.
After receiving a certificate, Dee Dee entered the university. However, at this stage of life, music occupied a paramount role. Soon the girl began to sing in the university big band, and in 1969, together with other students, she went on tour in the Soviet Union.
In 1970, the jazz singer met Cecil Bridgewater. It was more than just a meeting. Soon the young man proposed to Dee Dee. The young people got married and moved to New York.
A few years after this important event, Dee Dee auditioned and became part of an ensemble led by Thad Jones and Mel Lewis.
After this event, we can talk about the formation of Dee Dee as a professional singer. Then she recorded compositions with such stars as Sonny Rollins, Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon.
The creative path of Dee Dee Bridgewater
In the mid-1970s, Dee Dee was cast in the Broadway musical The Wiz. The jazz performer was part of the musical until 1976.
The strong voice of the singer, her charisma and charming appearance did not leave indifferent not only ordinary viewers, but also influential representatives of show business.
For the role of Glinda Bridgewater, Dee Dee received the first prestigious Tony Award. The jazz singer was awarded for her performance of the musical composition If You Believe.
One critic commented, "'If You Believe' is a song that inspires hope and literally makes you live...".
During this same period of time, Dee Dee Bridgewater began to try himself as a solo actress. In 1974, the singer made her debut on a small label with the compilation Afro Blue.
A few years later, Dee Dee Bridgewater released a compilation specifically for Atlantic. Despite the strong voice, none of the labels wanted to take on the producers of Dee Dee Bridgewater.
According to professionals, it is difficult for a singer to choose a repertoire. Few believed in the payback of the project. Dee Dee was in search of herself and her individual style of performance.
If you listen to the first Bridgewater compilation, you can clearly hear the pop performance. The singer's vocals were distinguished by a wide range and emotional expression.
The first collections were "raw" and "uneven". There were "leaps" from composition to composition. This prevented the collections from becoming integral and original. Dee Dee has been in search of "her" style of performance for a long time. But soon she managed to become a legend.
Moving to France
The artist received invitations from prestigious theaters in Tokyo, Los Angeles, Paris and London. For a long time, Dee Dee put off the opportunity to work in the main theaters, because she hoped to realize herself in the United States of America.
After the jazz singer came to the attention of the Elektra company, her singing career began to develop. Soon Dee Dee released two albums.
We are talking about the compilations Just Family (1977) and Bad for Me (1979). Despite some successes, Dee Dee Bridgewater was not a global star for American music lovers and music critics.
That is why in the late 1980s the singer decided to move to France. Dee Dee was determined. For several years, the singer traveled to all kinds of jazz festivals, and also created a television show with Charles Aznavour.
A little later, Dee Dee created a personal jazz ensemble that accompanied the singer during tours and recording musical compositions.
Interestingly, it was in France that the singer managed to realize one of the most daring and extraordinary ideas - together with Stephen Stahl, Dee Dee prepared the play Lady Day (about the legendary dark-skinned jazz singer Billie Holiday).
In 1987, Dee Dee brought the play to London. The jazz singer perfectly conveyed the image of Billie Holiday. Interestingly, the theatrical figures of Great Britain nominated Dee Dee for the Laurence Olivier Award.
And then Bridgewater was gone. She less and less pleased her fans with playing in theaters and new musical compositions. After 10 years of silence, Dee Dee emerged from the “shadow” and began to gradually return to her homeland.
A break of 10 years...
In these 10 years of a break, the singer practically did not look into the recording studio. Dee Dee gave fans only one live album, Live in Paris, which was released in 1987.
Thanks to the collection, the jazz performer received an award from the French Jazz Academy.
In the early 1990s, Dee Dee released another live album, In Montreux, which was highly acclaimed. He confirmed the reputation of the singer.
Bridgewater's first American release since 1979, Keeping Tradition, was reissued in 1992. The collection was nominated for a Grammy Award.
It seems that this is exactly the recognition that Dee Dee Bridgewater wanted. But before the real takeoff, you still have to wait a bit. In the meantime, the jazz singer bathed in the rays of glory.
In the mid-1990s, the singer presented a studio album, which she dedicated to the memory of the famous Horace Silver. We are talking about the collection Love and Peace. American critics called this work a masterpiece.
After the release of the record, Dee Dee returned to the United States and organized an excellent tour. In the same period of time, the French Jazz Academy awarded the singer a special award named after Billie Holiday for the best jazz vocal.
A few years later, Dee Dee excited music lovers with new musical material that made their hearts beat faster.
Bridgewater herself produced and recorded a compilation in memory of the famous jazz diva, idol of her life, Ella Fitzgerald Dear Ella. An emotional and poignant album simply could not be left without attention.
The collection was awarded several well-deserved Grammy awards. In addition, the compilation Dear Ella was recognized as the best jazz album of our time by presenting the performer with the Victories de la Music award.
Interesting facts about Dee Dee Bridgewater
- The jazz singer considers her homeland the United States of America.
- "Amazing Lady" is Dee Dee's most frequent Instagram comment.
- “Musical compositions make me dance with joy and cry with emotion,” the singer admits.
- With her work, the jazz singer inspired the Russian jazz quintet Yankiss Band to perform a tribute concert dedicated to the famous singer.
- Dee Dee worked on a television show with Charles Aznavour.
- With Ray Charles, the singer released a track that hit the top of the jazz charts.
- Dee Dee Bridgewater admits that her weakness is a delicious dessert and a good perfume.
- To get used to the role well, Dee Dee studies the biography of the person she should play on stage.
- A jazz singer cannot imagine her morning without fragrant coffee and a cup of water.
- The singer performed on the same stage with Clark Terry, James Moody, Jimmy McGriff.
Dee Dee Bridgewater today
Today, the name Dee Dee Bridgewater is associated not only with an actress and jazz singer. The woman has an active civil position.
In 1999, she was chosen as the United Nations Ambassador for Food and Agriculture. This allowed Dee Dee to visit dozens of countries around the world.
In 2002, Dee Dee Bridgewater dedicated a collection to Kurt Weill. This Is New was arranged by the singer's husband Cecil Bridgewater. The musical composition Bilbao Song deserves considerable attention.
In 2005, the singer's discography was replenished with the album J'ai Deux Amours, which included popular French compositions. The jazz singer released this album especially in honor of her birthday.
In it you can hear compositions by Charles Trenet, Jacques Brel, Leo Ferret and other popular French composers.
In 2010, the singer's discography was replenished with the album Eleanora Fagan (1915-1959): To Billie with Love from Dee Dee Bridgewater. The collection was dedicated to Billie Holiday. A year later, the jazz singer released the album Midnight Sun.
Despite his age, Dee Dee Bridgewater continues to be active in touring. For example, in 2020 a jazz singer will visit Russia. The next performance will take place in the fall.
