In 1962, Warwick released her first solo single, "Don't Make Me Over," which became a top 40 hit in the U.S. Warwick’s given name (Warrick) was misspelled on the credits, giving way to her new stage name, Warwick. She then followed up with the songs, "Anyone Who Had a Heart" and "Walk on By," both major hits that established her as a chart contender.
The late 60s and early 70s saw Warwick releasing several gold records. By the early 70s she had switched to the Warner Bros. Records label, securing a five-year contract – the largest contract for a female artist at that point in time. Despite the change to a major label, Warwick did not achieve the same commercial success with her music for the remainder of the 70s, until her move to Arista records at the end of the decade and the smash release I'll Never Love This Way Again, produced by Barry Manilow.
In 1982, Warwick scored another hit when she collaborated with Barry Gibb of The Bee Gees for the song, "Heartbreaker." Her partnership with Luther Vandross on the album, How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye, which he produced for Warwick in the early 80s also yielded more success for the songstress, and broadened her fan base. In 1986, Warwick lent her voice to the American Foundation for AIDS Research (AmFAR) benefit single "That's What Friends Are For," along with Gladys Knight, Elton John, and Stevie Wonder. The song provided Warwick with her fifth Grammy Award, and saw her reuniting with co-writer Burt Bacharach.
The 90s saw Warwick releasing fewer hits, with the exception of the single "Love Will Find a Way," featuring Whitney Houston, who is actually Warwick’s cousin. At this time, Warwick turned her attention to hosting infomercials for the Psychic Friends Network, joining celebrities such as Cher and La Toya Jackson in endorsing psychic hotlines.
In 2002, Warwick was arrested at Miami International Airport on charges of marijuana possession. After Warwick agreed to complete a drug treatment program, and make an anti-drug public service announcement, the charges were dropped.
In 2005, Dionne Warwick was a guest at Oprah Winfrey’s Legends Ball, joining other honorees such as Mariah Carey, Angela Basset, Diana Ross, and Patti Labelle. Warwick reemerged into the spotlight again the following year, appearing on the 2006 fifth-season finale of American Idol, with Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, and Ryan Seacrest. Also that year, Warwick released a duets album, My Friends and Me, featuring Gloria Estefan, Olivia Newton John, Wynonna Judd, and Reba McEntire.
YUDDY
