Dionne Warwick; Elvis Presley.Photo:Kevin Mazur/Getty; Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty
Kevin Mazur/Getty; Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty
Dionne Warwickwas “all shook up” the first time she metElvis.
In an interview withCBS News, the legendary singer/actress, 83, who was one ofthis year’s Kennedy Center honorees, opened up about her first impression of the King of Rock and Roll after meeting him in Las Vegas whileCissy Houston, her aunt and the mother ofWhitney Houston, was in his backing group, the Sweet Inspirations.
Warwick said that as a result, she “sold more albums in Vegas than I have ever sold.”
“After I finished singing, the whole congregation stood and applauded me,” she told the publication. “That was my first standing ovation.”
Born into a musical family — her mothers and siblings performed as the Drinkard Sisters — she believes her future was predetermined.
“It was almost like it was preordained, that if you’re in this family, this is what you’re gonna do,” she said.
As the “That’s What Friends Are For” musician found fame, artists like Issac Hayes andAretha Franklinbegan covering her older tracks. Initially, she didn’t appreciate it: “No! What are you doing singing my stuff?”
But eventually, she changed her tune.
“It got to the point where I understood, or I began to understand, what a compliment that is,” she said.
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Dionne Warwick in New York City in May 2023.Santiago Felipe/Getty Images
Santiago Felipe/Getty Images
Recently, Warwickopened up to PEOPLEabout why she wanted her next project to be a gospel album.
“It’s time. It really is. We need to get back to loving each other again. I don’t know what’s going on in our world right now, so much hatred, obstinance and ugliness. People are basically doing things that they feel they’re entitled to do without any retribution whatsoever,” she said.
The “Walk on By” artist continued: “I just feel now, we need to get back to our Bible. We need to get back to the words that are meaningful, words of encouragement, happiness. We’re missing so much that we all should be looking forward to.”
Warwick plans to release the LP —Songs of Inspiration —in 2024.
source: people.com
