dee dee warwick

Biography

Dee Dee Warwick, born Delia Mae Warrick on September 25, 1942, in Newark, New Jersey, was a celebrated soul singer whose career spanned over four decades[3][4]. She grew up in a deeply musical family: her mother, Lee Drinkard-Warrick, was a founding member of the Drinkard Singers, a renowned gospel group that included her aunt Cissy Houston[2][3]. As a teenager, Dee Dee sang in the New Hope Baptist Church choir alongside her sister Dionne Warwick and Cissy Houston, eventually forming the gospel trio The Gospelaires, which often performed with the Drinkard Singers[2][3][4]. Her early exposure to gospel music profoundly shaped her vocal style, characterized by emotional depth and technical prowess. In 1959, the Warwick sisters made their recording debut as background vocalists at the Apollo Theater, launching a prolific period of session work in New York City throughout the early 1960s[2][3]. Dee Dee began her solo career in 1963, recording for Jubilee and later Mercury Records, where she released hits like 'I Want To Be With You' and 'Foolish Fool'[1][2]. She is also notable for recording the original version of 'You're No Good' (later a hit for Linda Ronstadt) and 'I'm Gonna Make You Love Me' (famously covered by The Supremes and Temptations)[3]. Despite her talent, Dee Dee's career was often overshadowed by her sister's superstardom and the dominance of labelmates like Aretha Franklin and Roberta Flack at Atlantic Records[3]. She continued recording into the 1980s, with albums for Sutra and Heritage Records becoming collector's items[1][2]. Later in life, she returned to her gospel roots, performing in musicals and recording with Dionne. Dee Dee Warwick passed away on October 18, 2008, at age 66[1][4]. Her legacy endures as one of soul music's most respected yet underrated voices, celebrated for her contributions to both gospel and secular music.

Fun Facts

• Dee Dee Warwick was one of the first openly lesbian performers in popular music, though this aspect of her identity was not widely publicized during her peak career years due to the era's social climate[3].
• She recorded under the pseudonym 'DeDe Schwartz' for RCA Victor in 1975, a rare instance of using an alternate name[4].
• Warwick received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1999, recognizing her contributions to soul music[4].
• In her final years, she returned to performing gospel music and appeared on her sister Dionne's gospel album 'Why We Sing' in 2008[4].

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Lee Drinkard-Warrick - Mother and manager of the Drinkard Singers, early musical mentor (Drinkard Singers, family gospel performances) [1950s]
• Cissy Houston - Aunt, fellow choir and group member, vocal influence (Gospelaires, Drinkard Singers) [1950s–1960s]

Key Collaborators

• Dionne Warwick - Sister, frequent collaborator in gospel and session work (Gospelaires, session vocals, later concert and recording collaborations) [1950s–2000s]
• Doris Troy - Session singer, part of New York vocal team (Various New York session recordings) [1960s]
• Ashford & Simpson - Backing vocalists on 'I'm Gonna Make You Love Me' ('I'm Gonna Make You Love Me' (1966)) [1960s]
• Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller - Producers, early solo recordings ('You're No Good', 'Don't Think My Baby's Coming Back') [1960s]

Artists Influenced

• Linda Ronstadt - Covered Dee Dee's original 'You're No Good' ('You're No Good' (1974)) [1970s]
• The Supremes & The Temptations - Covered Dee Dee's 'I'm Gonna Make You Love Me' as a duet ('I'm Gonna Make You Love Me' (1968)) [1960s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Suspicious Minds (VINYL: Music From The HBO® Original Series - Vol. 1)
2. She Didn't Know (She Kept on Talking) (feat. The Dixie Flyers) - Single Version (Turning Around)
3. You're No Good (Mama's Got A Bag Of Her Own)
4. Suspicious Minds (feat. The Dixie Flyers) (The Complete Atco Recordings)
5. You're No Good - Remastered Single Version (One Kiss Can Lead To Another: Girl Group Sounds, Lost & Found)
6. Foolish Fool (Roots Of Sublime)
7. Foolish Fool (I Want To Be With You)
8. I'm Gonna Make You Love Me (I Want To Be With You)
9. When Love Slips Away (I Want To Be With You)
10. I'm Gonna Make You Love Me (The Collection)

External Links

• Spotify
• [Wikipedia](Not found in search results)
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #american, #gospel, #soul