ROOT Exclusive Interview With The Legendary Dionne Warwick
October 16, 2012
As told to Hasan James
Dionne Warwick has, over an illustrious five-decade career, established herself as an international musical legend. Her reputation as a hit maker has been firmly etched into public consciousness, thanks to nearly sixty charted hits since “Don’t Make Me Over” began its climb up the charts in December 1962. As a performer, she has charmed and entertained audiences on every continent, amassing a worldwide audience. There are a few important “firsts” that make Dionne Warwick a true pioneer.
Dionne Warwick received her first Grammy Award in 1968 (for the classic “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?”), and in so doing became the first African-American solo female artist of her generation to win the prestigious award for Best Contemporary Female Vocal Performance. This award has only been awarded to one other female African-American legend, Ella Fitzgerald.
As she looks forward to another decade of great music, Dionne Warwick says that she still has some important personal goals; “As I’ve said over the years, I still want the Tony, Oscar, and Emmy!”
After the death of her cousin, Whitney Houston earlier this year, Dionne Warwick is still in love with music and is showing the world that the show must go on. This is Dionne…NOW.
Root Mag: After being in the music industry for 50 years now, you’ve had many hit songs down through the years and you’re like the template of pop music, from the 60’s with Hal David (producer and songwriter). What are your thoughts on the current state of the music?
Dionne Warwick: Well, honestly I don’t listen to it; it’s not appealing to my ear at all.
Root Mag: Do you think the music has changed from back in the day?
Dionne Warwick: Drastically!
Root Mag: What was that defining moment in your career?
Dionne Warwick: Wow, I don’t know, there’s been so many glorious moments over the past 50 years, it’s very hard to choose just one. The first gold record; the first platinum record; the first Grammy, the first performance for the king and queen…it’s just too many to name just one but those are a few.
Root Mag: So I see you have new music being released next month and I actually had the pleasure of listening to it and I must say it sounds really good and your voice sounds the same.
Dionne Warwick: Thank you.
Root Mag: You also re-did some of the classics as well. You have over 50 top ten singles and albums that stand the test of time, so it’s not like you have to continue to release music. Why did you choose to do an album in this day and age?
Dionne Warwick: It’s really a celebration of the 50 years I’ve been in business. I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than with my music. I took of a poll with some people; friends and neighbors and asked them to give me their favorite songs and that’s how we came up with the songs that are on the CD. It’s amazing because I would have never been able to do these songs, but I’m happy I did it that way.
Root Mag: Wow, that’s great. Now I was doing some research and I see that you were one of the first artists to request R.I.A.A. (Recording Industry Association of America) audits of your recordings and that type of thing was unheard of back then. Why do you think it’s important to know the business of music?
Dionne Warwick: I did it because I felt that I wasn’t being treated honorably according to the contract that was signed. I felt it was something that was due to me. I often wondered why any record company would take from any artist considering all of the money they make off of the artist; it just didn’t make sense to me.
Root Mag: Most recently you were involved in a dispute over the Performance Rights Act, which has recently been changed to the Civil Rights for Musicians Act. You and artists like 50 Cent, George Clinton and others were in a heated battle with congress and Radio One with regards to performance rights. I always assumed that artists were paid some type of fee when their songs are played on the radio.
Dionne Warwick: Everybody in the world thinks that but that is not the case. The publishers get paid, the writers get paid and the radio stations get paid because of the commercials and because of my music [Laughs] but I find it so creepy that the musicians, the background singers and the artists are the only ones that don’t get paid.
Root Mag: Wow, that’s amazing. So what came out of that?
Dionne Warwick: I am still chasing it; it’s in the House (of Representatives) now.
Root Mag: Okay, so they’re trying to make a decision on whether or not…..
Dionne Warwick: We want a law. You gotta PAY to PLAY.
Root Mag: I believe it’s the right thing to do.
Dionne Warwick: Cathy Hughes (Radio One CEO) and I have been friends for ninety million years and for her to take the position that she has taken, I’m really surprised.
Root Mag: I guess because she owns the stations, in her mind she thinks it going to hurt her.
Dionne Warwick: It can’t hurt her because the amount of money the station earns from commercials alone…come on give me a break!
Root Mag: I’m a huge fan of “The Apprentice” franchise and you were on “Celebrity Apprentice” last year. What made you do that show? Did your kids make you do it?
Dionne Warwick: No, nothing like that; it was a case of what I thought the show was about, which was earning money for charity and it turned out to be a little bit more than what I thought it would be.
Root Mag: Do you regret even going on the show or you just saw it as a learning experience? Of course it was entertaining to see, but it was so funny to see….and I kind felt the other people how they didn’t want to disrespect you because this is like “Dionne Warwick” and nobody wanted to get out of line [Laughs] it was like your kids; Star Jones like I’m not saying nothing to Mrs. Dionne. It was funny to see, I would have taken the same approach because you are a legend [Laughs].
Dionne Warwick: Thank you.
Root Mag: Also back in the 90s’ you were the face of the physic network, is that something…and it was very, very popular…I know you were born and raised in the church and sung in the choir, was that almost like a compromise in doing that or was it something spiritual on your side? I want you to explain that just because there were a lot of misconceptions about that.
Dionne Warwick: It was an honest living and nobody stepped up to pay my rent but people are going to talk no matter what just like they talked about Jesus Christ so who am I?
Root Mag: On your latest album you teamed up with your son on a few songs. How involved are you children in your career?
Dionne Warwick: My youngest son Damon is a producer and he recorded my vocals and mixed the CD for me. And of course David, my eldest son, he did a duet with me on “Say A Little Prayer”, so both of my babies are on my new CD.
Root Mag: That’s great. I read a while back that you were living in Brazil, is that still the case?
Dionne Warwick: Yes I have a home in Brazil and in New Jersey.
Root Mag: Wow! How do you like living in Brazil?
Dionne Warwick: I love it! I’ve been there for about 20 years.
Root Mag: So after this album what’s next for you? Are you going to be touring?
Dionne Warwick: I am actually on a world tour right now.
Root Mag: Do you still love it as much as you did 40 years ago?
Dionne Warwick: I love what I do; it’s getting to do it that’s the drama [Laughs].
Root Mag: Have you met President Obama?
Dionne Warwick: Yes I have. If you go on You Tube you can find him serenading me with the song “Walk On By.”
