Dee Dee Warwick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dee Dee Warwick
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Delia Juanita Warrick |
| Born | September 25, 1942 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | October 18, 2008 (aged 66) Essex County, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1961–2008 |
| Labels | |
Dee Dee Warwick was a talented American soul singer. Her real name was Delia Juanita Warrick. She was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1942. Dee Dee came from a very musical family. Her sister was the famous singer Dionne Warwick. Her aunt was Cissy Houston, and her cousins were Whitney Houston and Leontyne Price. Dee Dee Warwick passed away in 2008 at the age of 66.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Family
Dee Dee Warwick was born in East Orange, New Jersey. Her father, Mancel Warrick, worked as a chef and promoted gospel music. Her mother, Lee Drinkard-Warrick, managed a gospel singing group called The Drinkard Singers.
Dee Dee had one sister, Dionne Warwick, and a brother, Mancel Jr. The family had roots in African-American, Native American, Brazilian, and Dutch cultures. Dee Dee finished high school in East Orange in 1960.
Starting a Singing Career
Dee Dee Warwick began singing in the New Hope Baptist Church Choir in Newark, New Jersey. She sang with her sister Dionne and their aunt Cissy Houston. Eventually, these three women formed a gospel trio called The Gospelaires. They often performed with The Drinkard Singers. Dee Dee was a member of both groups.
In 1959, while performing at the famous Apollo Theater, Dee Dee and Dionne were asked to sing as session musicians. This meant they would sing background vocals for other artists' recordings. Soon, Dee Dee, Dionne, and another singer named Doris Troy became a popular team for session singing in New York City.
Dee Dee Warwick started her solo career in 1963. One of her first songs was "You're No Good". She also recorded "I (Who Have Nothing)" in 1964.
Dee Dee made her first appearance on national television in 1965. She sang the gospel song "Children, Go Where I Send Thee" with her sister Dionne on a show called Hullabaloo. She also performed on another show called Shivaree, where she sang "We're Doing Fine" and "I Want to Be with You".
Success with Mercury Records
In 1965, Dee Dee Warwick signed with Mercury Records. She had a hit song called "We're Doing Fine" which reached the Top 30 on the R&B charts.
Her biggest hit came in 1966 with the song "I Want to Be with You." This song was from a Broadway musical called Golden Boy. It became a Top 10 R&B hit and almost made it into the Top 40 on the pop charts.
Her next single was the original version of "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me". While it wasn't her biggest hit, it became very well-known. This was because it later became a huge success as a duet. It was sung by Diana Ross and The Supremes and The Temptations.
Recordings with Atco
Dee Dee Warwick continued to record for Mercury Records through the late 1960s. Her songs like "Foolish Fool" were successful in the R&B charts. In 1970, she signed with Atco. This was because Atlantic Records president Jerry Wexler admired her singing.
Her first album with Atco was called Turning Around. It included a Top 10 R&B hit called "She Didn't Know". However, after this, Dee Dee didn't have another album or single reach the Top 20 on the R&B charts. She felt that Atco had many other big female singers like Aretha Franklin and Roberta Flack. This meant she didn't always get the best songs or promotion.
One of her last R&B hits with Atco was a remake of "Suspicious Minds" in 1971.
Later Career and Recognition
Dee Dee Warwick returned to Mercury Records in 1973. The next year, she moved to Private Stock. Her 1975 single "Get Out of My Life" was her last song to appear on the R&B charts.
In 1994, Dee Dee moved to Georgia. In 1999, she received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. This award honored her important contributions to music.
Later in her life, Dee Dee sang background vocals for her sister Dionne's concerts. She also sang on the song "Family First" for the Tyler Perry film Daddy's Little Girls in 2007. In 2008, she was featured on the title song of Dionne's gospel album Why We Sing. She also sang background vocals for Dionne's show in Europe.
Death
Dee Dee Warwick had diabetes for many years and her health was declining. She passed away on October 18, 2008, in a nursing home in Essex County, New Jersey. Her sister Dionne was with her when she died. Dee Dee was 66 years old.
Discography
Albums
- I Want To Be With You / I'm Gonna Make You Love (1967)
- Foolish Fool (1969)
- Turning Around (1970)
- Dee Dee (1983)
- Call Me (1984)
Singles
- 1963: "You're No Good" (Jubilee) (No. 117 US)
- 1965: "Do It With All Your Heart" (Blue Rock) (No. 124 US)
- 1965: "We're Doing Fine" (Blue Rock) (No. 96 US, No. 28 R&B)
- 1966: "I Want To Be With You" (Mercury) (No. 41 US, No. 9 R&B)
- 1966: "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" (Mercury) (No. 88 US, No. 13 R&B)
- 1967: "When Love Slips Away" (Mercury) (No. 92 US, No. 43 R&B)
- 1969: "That's Not Love" (Mercury) (No. 106 US, No. 42 R&B)
- 1969: "Ring of Bright Water" (Mercury) (No. 113 US)
- 1969: "Foolish Fool" (Mercury) (No. 57 US, No. 14 R&B)
- 1970: "She Didn't Know (She Kept On Talking)" (Atco) (No. 70 US, No. 9 R&B)
- 1970: "Cold Night In Georgia" (Atco) (No. 44 R&B)
- 1971: "Suspicious Minds" (Atco) (No. 80 US, No. 24 R&B)
- 1975: "Get Out Of My Life" (Private Stock) (No. 73 R&B)
See also
In Spanish: Dee Dee Warwick para niños
