Dionne Warwick is an American pop singer who has come a long way.
She performed the first hits written by the famous composer and pianist Bert Bacharach. Dionne Warwick has won 5 Grammy awards for her achievements.
The birth and youth of Dionne Warwick
The singer was born on December 12, 1940 in East Orange, New Jersey. The name of the singer, given to her at birth, is Marie Dionne Warwick.
Her family was very religious, and at the age of 6 the girl became the lead singer of the Christian group The Gospelaires. Dion's father acted as the band's manager.
Together with her, the team included Aunt Cissy Houston and sister Dee Dee Warwick. Soon these girls became backing vocalists for Ben King - they participated in the recording of his hits Stand By Me and Spanish Harlem.
The real passion for music in the future star manifested itself in 1959, when she graduated from high school and became a student at the College of Arts and Sciences in Hartford (Connecticut).
During his studies, Dionne Warwick and Burt Bacharach met. The composer offered the girl cooperation to record demo versions of several songs for which he wrote music.
Hearing Dion sing, Bacharach was pleasantly surprised, and as a result, the aspiring singer signed a personal contract to record the song.
Dionne Warwick: career and achievements
Dionne's first hit was Don't Make Me Over. The single was recorded in 1962 and a year later it became very popular. the singer found considerable success thanks to songs written by Burt Bacharach.
So, at the end of 1963, the world heard Walk On By - a composition that became the singer's calling card. This song has been covered by many famous artists.
It was in the performance of Dionne Warwick that the world heard the popular song I Say a Little Prayer (1967). The composition was one of Bacharach's most famous works. They sounded great and, thanks to Warwick's talent, were easily perceived by the general public.
As early as 1968, I'll Never Fall in Love Again sounded on all US music charts. Her girlfriend performed in her own style.
The artist has gained significant success thanks to the recording of soundtracks for films. In this direction, the soundtracks for the film "Alfie" (1967) and "Valley of the Dolls" (1968) became especially famous.
But the path of the star was not so simple. After breaking up with Bacharach, the singer began to have difficult times, and this weakened her position in the ratings of performers.
However, the release of the song Then Came You in 1974 brought Dionne Warwick to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. This composition was recorded with the blues team The Spinners.
When in the mid-1970s there were significant changes in directions and the disco style became the most popular, the singer did not release hits and did not show herself very much.
In 1979 she recorded the song I'll Never Love This Way Again (music by Richard Kerr, lyrics by William Jenning). The hit was produced by Barry Manilow.
1982 was for Warwick the beginning of a new stage in her work. Together with the British-Australian band Bee Gees, she recorded the dance single Heart Breaker.
And although the era of disco style was already gradually drawing to a close, this composition became a hit on all American dance floors.
The work of Dion Warwick and Stevie Wonder was fruitful. In 1984, they sang a duet during the recording of Wonder's The Woman In Red album, and the singer recorded one song solo.
The last musical project of the singer was her participation in the creation of the super hit That's What Friends Are For.
It was a charity project for Bacharach, in which he also invited a significant number of stars, such as Stevie Wonder, Elton John, and others. For Warwick, the performance of the song brought another Grammy award.
The further career of the artist was not limited to the music scene. For example, in 1977 she became one of the members of the famous Miss Universe pageant.
The life of the singer in the 1990-2000s.
When Warwick's activity declined, hard times began for her, this was especially reflected in her financial situation. So, in the 1990s, the press repeatedly wrote about the star's problems with paying taxes, her debts.
In the early 2000s, the singer was arrested on suspicion of illegal drug possession. A severe shock for the woman was the death of her sister Dee Dee, with whom she had been singing since childhood.
For her 50th musical year, the singer released a new album with the symbolic name Now. The album included songs written by Burt Bacharach.
The talent of the singer, her potential and desire to develop allowed her to stay in the music arena for a long time. She did not change her style, continued to create and delight the audience.
Having received dual citizenship, Dionne Warwick settled in Rio de Janeiro, where she still lives.
Dionne Warwick's personal life
From her marriage to musician and actor William David Elliot, the singer has two sons: Damon Elliot and David. For many years she collaborated with her sons, supported them in various endeavors.
