Warwick, Dionne (1940–)

African-American pop singer. Name variations: Dionne Warwicke. Born Marie Dionne Warrick, Dec 12, 1940, in East Orange, NJ; dau. of Mancel (some sources cite Marcel) Warrick (chef and gospel music promoter) and Lee Warrick (manager of a gospel group); earned a master's degree in music from Hartt College of Music at University of Hartford, 1976; m. Bill Elliot (drummer and actor), 1967 (div. 1975).

Five-time Grammy winner, formed a group called The Gospelaires with 2 cousins and sister Dee Dee (mid-1950s), performing as back-up for other singers, including The Drifters, which brought her to the attention of Burt Bacharach and Hal David; signed contract with Scepter Records and released Bacharach-David's "Don't Make Me Over" (1962), which immediately soared to #21 on Billboard charts; collaborated with Bacharach and David to produce nearly 20 bestselling albums and 30 hit singles, including "Anyone Who Had a Heart" and "Walk on By" (both 1964), "Message to Michael" (1966), "I Say a Little Prayer for You" (1968) and "This Girl's in Love with You" (1969); other hits included "Trains and Boats and Planes," "Alfie," "You'll Never Get to Heaven" and "Make It Easy on Yourself"; collaborated with the Spinners on single "Then Came You" (1974), which topped the Billboard chart; signed with Arista (1979) and released album Dionne, which included "I'll Never Love This Way Again" and "Deja Vu" (both songs earned Grammy Awards, making her the 1st female artist to win in both Pop Female Vocal and Rhythm and Blues Female Vocal categories); on tv, hosted "Solid Gold"(1980), co-hosted and helped originate "The Soul Train Music Awards," and hosted "Dionne and Friends" and the Psychic Friends Network (1990s); brought together other artists to record "That's What Friends Are For," which raised an estimated $2 million for AIDS research (1986); was also involved in boosting awareness for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and sickle-cell anemia. Won Grammy Award for "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?" (1968) and "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" (1970); appeared at a command performance for Queen Elizabeth II (1968), the 1st black female performer to be so honored.

See also Women in World History.