Many of Warwick's family were members of the Drinkard Singers, a family gospel group and RCA recording artists who frequently performed throughout the New York metropolitan area. Warwick performing in Amsterdam, 1966 Drinkard Singers During one session, Warwick met Burt Bacharach, who hired her to record demos featuring songs written by him and lyricist Hal David. She landed some work with her group singing backing vocals for recording sessions in New York City. After finishing East Orange High School in 1959, Warwick pursued her passion at the Hartt College of Music in West Hartford, Connecticut. She was raised in East Orange, New Jersey and was a Girl Scout for a time. Her parents were both African American, and she also has Native American and Dutch ancestry. She had a sister, Delia ('Dee Dee'), who died in 2008, and a brother, Mancel Jr., who was killed in an accident in 1968 at age 21. Dionne was named after her aunt on her mother's side. Her mother was manager of the Drinkard Singers, and her father was a Pullman porter, chef, record promoter and CPA. Marie Dionne Warrick, later Warwick, was born in East Orange, New Jersey to Lee Drinkard and Mancel Warrick.

She is a former Goodwill Ambassador for the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization. Three of her songs (' Walk On By', ' Alfie' and ' Don't Make Me Over') have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2019 she won the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Warwick has been inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame, the R&B Music Hall of Fame and the Apollo Theater Walk of Fame. Dionne ranks #74 on the Billboard Hot 100's 'Greatest Artists of all time'.ĭuring her career, Warwick has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and she has won many awards, including six Grammy Awards. She is also one of the most-charted vocalists of all time, with 56 of her singles making the Hot 100 between 19 (12 of them Top Ten), and 80 singles in total – either solo or collaboratively – making the Hot 100, R&B and/or adult contemporary charts. She is the second-most charted female vocalist during the rock era (1955–1999). hit makers between 19, based on her chart history on Billboard's Hot 100 pop singles chart. Marie Dionne Warwick ( / d i ˈ ɒ n/ born December 12, 1940) is an American singer, actress, and television host.

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