Dionne Warwick

Dionne Warwick (born Marie Dionne Warwick) is a Grammy-winning singer, actress and television host. Warwick came from a musical family and began singing gospel as a child. She studied music education at the University of Hartford in Connecticut while performing as a session singer in New York City.

Her career took off in the early 1960s after she was discovered by songwriting duo Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Signed to Scepter Records, Warwick scored a string of hits including “Anyone Who Had a Heart” and “Do You Know the Way to San Jose.” She went on to win five Grammy Awards and became one of the most-charted female vocalists of all time.

In the 1980s, Warwick had a resurgence with the AIDS benefit single “That’s What Friends Are For” alongside Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight and Elton John. She also hosted the TV special Solid Gold throughout the ‘80s and made appearances on shows such as Family Feud and The Daily Show.

Warwick married drummer William Elliott in 1966. They divorced in 1967, remarried the same year and divorced again in 1975. They share two sons: David Elliott (born in 1969) and Damon Elliott (born in 1973).