SOUTH ORANGE, New Jersey (AP) — Dee Dee Warwick, a noted soul singer who won recognition for both her solo work and her performances with her older sister Dionne Warwick, has died. She was 63.
Dee Dee Warwick was the niece of gospel singer Cissy Houston and a cousin of pop star Whitney Houston.
Warwick died Saturday at a nursing home in Essex County, New Jersey, said family spokesman Kevin Sasaki. He said she had been in failing health in recent months and that 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.
A member of a musical family, Warwick was the niece of noted gospel singer Cissy Houston and a cousin of pop star Whitney Houston.
TBGB Note: Dee Dee Warwick started out as a teenager singing gospel with Dionne as the Gospelaires and later as a member of the famous Drinkard Singers, a family group comprised of Warwicks and Houstons.
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Written by : Bob Marovich
Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host. Founder of Journal of Gospel Music blog (formally The Black Gospel Blog) and producer of the Gospel Memories Radio Show.
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Actually, The Drinkard Singers consisted of Cissy and her siblings (Ann, Nick, & Larry), the Drinkard family. Dionne & Dee Dee’s mother Lee Drinkard served as the groups’ manager.
Once the family moved to GA, Marie Epps and Ann Moss joined the group. Anne Drinkard left and was replaced by Lee’s adopted daughter Judy Guions, who was later known as Judy Clay.
Thanks for the clarification!