Grammy legend Dionne Warwick, known for classics such as « Don’t Make Me Over, » « Alfie, » « Walk On By » and « Do You Know The Way to San Jose, » received top achievements last year. A major one being the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors, where Debbie Allen, Cynthia Erivo, Chloe Bailey, Ego Nwodim (who portrays the music legend in « The Dionne Warwick Show » skits on Saturday Night Live),country superstar Mickey Guyton as well as The Spinners, the group with whom she recorded the #1 R&B/Pop hit « Then Came You, » paid tribute to the New Jersey native.
This year, Ms. Warwick be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in October, earning the Musical Influence Award. She acknowledges, « It is quite interesting that it’s happening now, because I’ve been nominated a couple of times before, and now they’ve finally gotten it right! » Adding to her accolades, Ms. Warwick – who put the songs of Burt Bachrach and Hal David on the musical map – will be honored by the Library of Congress later this year with the Gershwin Prize as a performer (the Bacharach/David team earned that honor years prior in the songwriters category).
Warwick, the consummate song stylist and performer, is recording new music. With matters such as the COVID-19 pandemic and other worldly issues, the singer has been working on inspirational songs for a new project that will be released this year. « It’s what we need right now, » states Ms. Warwick. « So much is going on and I know what music can do to help us move the conversation forward. »
Making music with a message is familiar territory for the Grammy legend, as she rallied her friends Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight to record « That’s What Friends Are For » in 1986. This became the anthem for the HIV/AIDS rallying cry that brought the country together to destigmatize the disease. The song helped to raise awareness and raised millions for AIDS research.
With a monumental career that spans seven decades, Dionne Warwick shows no signs of slowing down – « It’s a blessing in its own way. Things are not being given to me. I have earned them. But it’s a wonderful thing indeed. They just aligned and I say, ‘thank you.' »