Soul singer Dee Dee Warwick dies in NJ at age 63

4 hours ago

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. (AP) — Dee Dee Warwick, a soul singer who won recognition for both her solo work and her performances with her older sister Dionne Warwick, has died. She was 63.

Warwick died Saturday at a nursing home in Essex County, said Kevin Sasaki, a family spokesman. She had been in failing health in recent months, he said, and her sister was with her when she died.

Warwick had several hits on the soul and R&B charts in the 1960s and 70s, including "Foolish Fool," "She Didn't Know (She Kept on Talking)" and a version of "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" that was later covered by Diana Ross and The Supremes.

Warwick also was a two-time Grammy Award nominee and sang backup for Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett and others before starting her solo career.

Warwick was the niece of gospel singer Cissy Houston and a cousin of Whitney Houston.

Born in Newark, Warwick was a teenager when she began singing with her older sister in the late 1950s. The two performed as The Gospelaires and also collaborated and sang with the Drinkard Singers, a long-running gospel group that also featured some of the Warwicks' aunts and uncles and was managed by their mother.

Most recently, Warwick provided background vocals for her sister's recent one-woman autobiographical show, "My Music & Me," which played to sold-out crowds in Europe this year. She also performed on the title song from Dionne Warwick's gospel album, "Why We Sing," released January 2008.
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RIP.

The original version of the Supremes/Temptations hit.

RIP, just read this online. :/ So sad, Dionne must be devestated.

OMG say it isn't so

She has been my latest focus recently as far music digs are concerned.

The world lost a GREAT soul singer.

I dedicate this song to you, dear!



I can't contain myself right now, I gotta stop.

NMusiqNSoul said:

Tell me about it. Dionne and Dee Dee were TIGHT! You saw photos of them singing together in the sixties? They were singing together as kids and kept singing together until Dee Dee's death.

I just read this on my news homepage and wondered if someone posted the news. She was still young, imo. Rest in peace.
[Edited 10/19/08 21:58pm]

shesoffthewall said:

At 63, you're still VERY young.

Timmy84 said:

Yes and to have to bury your little sister...my prayers go out to Dee Dee's sister Dionne and the rest of her family.

Timmy84 said:

Yes, man...don't it always seem that when someone famous dies someone else famous also soon follows. I think getting older is gonna suck 'cause more and more childhood heroes are gonna pass on, Not to sound too dramatic but it sucks.

shesoffthewall said:

Exactly. My prayers and condolences to the Warwick family and friends also.

NMusiqNSoul said:

All my prayers also go to the connected Drinkards and Houstons too for this terrible loss. You know Emily (Cissy) and Whitney are related to Dee Dee and Dionne so I'm sure they're hurting too.
[Edited 10/19/08 22:14pm]

RIP

For a quick minute I thought Dee Dee Bridgewater. But still I am very sorry to hear this news. RIP

Prayers goes out to the whole family
RIP

I loved Chaka Khan's version of "Foolish Fool". Never heard the original until recently.

R.I.P.

Harlepolis said:

Aww, dang, Harle. .

RIP