The trail of Dionne Warwick’s exquisite voice is followed by a string of awards and smash hits. Read about her amazing career and Dionne Warwick net worth.
You’d hear highly respected radio DJs like Herb Kent refer to Dionne Warwick’s music as a classic. She was a natural hit-maker who created her own brand of rhythm & blues.
Dionne Warwick was praised for her style and perfect delivery. A famous quote from her cousin, Whitney Houston, says that when Dionne sings a song, she never fails to make it her own.
For the current year, Dionne Warwick net worth is quoted at $1 million. The legendary songstress dominated the industry from the mid-1950s up to the late 1990s. Her albums sold over 25 million copies worldwide, winning six Grammy Awards and nominated nine times for top category.
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Dionne Warwick – Short Bio
Marie Dionne Warwick was born on December 12, 1940 in Orange, Essex County, New Jersey. She and her two younger siblings, Delia “Dee Dee” Warwick and Marcel Jr, grew up surrounded by music. Their father, Marcel Sr, was a Baptist minister who promoted gospel music and her mother, Lee, managed the gospel singing group, The Drinkard Singers,
The Drinkard Singers was a group started by her grandfather, Nicholas Drinkard, in 1938. He encouraged his four children to sing as a group. The original members were Dionne’s aunts, Emily and Anne, and her uncles, Nick and Larry. They were known as the Drinkard Quartet. Dionne’s mother, Lee, joined the lot later on and took the reins of managing the group.
Dionne first stood on stage and sang at six years old. She cited the experience as unforgettable after Dionne saw the explosive reaction of the audience. She was also encouraged to join the gospel group, which was later renamed the Drinkard Singers.
Career
At fourteen, Dionne formed her own singing group with her younger sister, Dee Dee which she called The Gospelaires. The duo went around performing at churches and events. They also won an amateur gospel singing contest at Harlem’s famed Apollo Theatre, host to great soul singers.
Starting Out As A Backup Singer
Dionne received an unexpected break when she tagged along to watch a performance by the Drinkard Singers at the Apollo theatre. While the group was still on stage, a man came rushing in to fetch the Drinkard singers and have them sing backup for a very important recording session.
Dionne immediately volunteered her little gospel group since the Drinkard Singers were unavailable. Her first big break was recording back up for Sam “The Man” Taylor, the legendary saxophonist, a long-time MGM artist who was well known in the US and international scene.
Encounter with Burt Bacharach and Marlene Dietrich
At 21, Dionne caught the ear of the conductor and arranger, Burt Bacharach, who worked closely with another legendary performer, Marlene Dietrich. He offered Dionne to record a demo for the songs he was working on with his new songwriting partner by the name of Hal Davis.
After pitching the songs they worked on to record labels, one of the companies recognized Dionne’s star potential and insisted on taking her in as one of their talents. By 1962, Dionne along with Bacharach and David, signed an exclusive contract under Scepter Records.
Though Bacharach and David also supplied songs to other Scepter artists, their priority had always been to raise Dionne as a performer. The first song they especially wrote for her was Don’t Make Me Over. It was released in an album along with other Bacharach-David demos.
Dionne Warwick’s Rise To Stardom
It only took Dionne Warwick one song to become a chart-topper. She became one of Apollo’s headliners and appeared in local and national dance shows, along with popular artists like the Righteous Brothers, Tom Jones, and Ray Charles. She was also the personal favorite of Marlene Dietrich, who went as far as introducing Dionne during her international debut in Paris, France.
She never forgot Dietrich’s advice to give her best in all her performances. By 1964, in barely two years after her first single was released, Dionne Warwick was named as America’s top-selling female artist. She was a formidable force, who released one hit after another.
Whether she sang original songs or a rendition of an existing piece, Dionne performed it in a way that made it her own, putting it into the music charts for months.
At 25, she became the first black artist to record a dozen consecutive top 100 singles. What’s more astonishing was that Dionne achieved her fame while persisting to do well in college.
Famous Names On Dionne Warwick
It was not just her voice but how she delivered the songs, filled with heart and soul. Hal David said that the singer never failed to convey the nature of the songs he created. It was as if she knew them better than he did. David only had praise for Dionne to the time of his death.
Bacharach described her as the most versatile artist whose voice can switch from strong and loud to gentle and exquisite, almost tip-toeing through the notes.
Musical genius Stevie Wonder commented on how Dionne was the perfect piece for the Bacharach-David team. She brought a unique element that completed their work.
Then the rarely impressed British superstar Elton John described her as exceptional, Bacharach compositions are notoriously complex, but Dionne executed them far beyond his wildest expectations.
The End Of The Trio
Bacharach, David, and Warwick were hailed as serial hit-makers in the music industry. They knew each other’s strengths and worked together to push each other forward that led to success. But like in any relationship, it’s not always filled with sunshine. There were times they disagreed.
Do You Know The Way To San Jose was a piece the Bacharach-David team wrote for Dionne. It gave the singer her first Grammy win in 1968, but it was also a song that she honestly didn’t like.
In the 70s, Bacharach and David started spending less time in the studio; they accepted projects that didn’t include her . During that period, Dionne’s albums couldn’t produce hits.
The three left Scepter Records and signed with Warner. Unfortunately, their project debut with the company failed to make an impact.
After that, Bacharach and David took on a movie project that ended up being an utter flop. The failure caused a deeper rift between the two and later announced the end of their partnership. Dionne felt betrayed when she heard the news; it led her to sue Bacharach.
Dionne sued them both for breach of contract, while Bacharach and David also sued each other. The three suffered major setbacks and would never work together again.
Dionne Warwick’s Legacy
Dionne Warwick was in a league of her own. Times may change, and music may shift its beat, but to many artists, she was an icon who created new standards that awed the music world. She was referred to, by younger artists, as the icon who bridged contemporary and pop music.
Her discography of hits included Alfie, Walk on By, and Say A Little Prayer. Dionne shared collaborations with superstars like the 1987 multi-nominated, Grammy-winning song, That’s What Friends Are For, which she performed with Stevie Wonder, Elton John, and Gladys Knight.
Dionne Warwick Net Worth – Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Was Dionne Warwick Net Worth?
Dionne Warwick net worth is estimated at $1 million. The semi-retired singer was the voice behind many great compositions by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. She first rose to fame in the late 1950s and is still active to this day.
Who Was Dionne Warwick’s Husband?
Dionne was married twice but to the same man. William Elliot was an actor and musician with whom she had two children. They first reconciled in 1967 then officially ended their marriage in 1975. Their issue stemmed from pride; with Dionne Warwick net worth as a famous singer, Elliot felt intimidated. He was the man of the house, but his wife was earning more than he ever could.
What Was Dionne Warwick’s Greatest Hit?
Dionne’s list of hits starts with the 1964 single Walk On By, followed by Do you Know The Way To San Jose, which bagged her first Grammy Award in 1968.
Dionne Warwick Net Worth – Final Thoughts
Dionne Warwick net worth deserves a sigh of relief, especially to those who value her role in the industry. In 2013, she filed for bankruptcy and acquired a $10 million debt from tax liabilities. The latest Dion Warwick net worth figures are a hopeful sign that things are improving for the singer.
History will always remember her as a pioneer who blurred the lines between jazz, pop, and R&B. She was the queen of Velvet R&B, people had to come up with a new genre because everything falls too short in describing the brand of music which was unique and exclusive only to her.
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