Dionne Warwick

The fact that her name is not yet on this list is truly astounding. Those of you in the younger generation need to go to You Tube and find out about the woman who bridged the gap - pop, soul, & r&b, from the early 60's right up to the present day. Her technique is unsurpassed - she has earned her doctorate in music and can handle the treacherous key changes and time signature shifts of the Bacharach/David catalogue better than any other singer. In fact, most of their timeless songs were either written for her or with her in mind. Note her unparalleled mastery of melisma (using many notes to sing one syllable), her use of modulation, and the range of emotion and pure power in her voice that is obtained without shouting (you young divas take note - her cousin Whitney Houston surely learned a lot from her!). She has charted about 60 songs and has won five Grammy awards. Tho' recently dissed for her performance on Celebrity Apprentice (she does not suffer fools gladly!) I have personally found her to be a woman of warmth, charm, incredible talent and class during the many times our paths have crossed. She is also a great humanitarian and has given back to the world by giving her time and talent to causes that few others had the courage to touch - for example, AIDS, when the fear and ignorance surrounding it was rampant. She is my favorite singer of all time and certainly deserves to at least be in the top 10!

Comments

what is the hell.. Dionne Warwick is one of the best singer of all times.. she has rare, cleaned, high, deep voice.. I think she must be in the top 30.. - visitor (7/18/2011)

I agree. Dionne is brilliant singer. Unfortunately, our young generation only cares about talentless "mambo-jambo" singers like Miley, Gaga, Rihanna, Beyonce, Katy, Kesha etc - Alexandr (10/16/2011)

She is second only to Aretha Franklin on the best selling female vocalists of all time. I've heard her in concert, and it was wonderful. She is a true musician who never sings a song the same way twice. She changes rhythms, uses alternate notes, phrases songs differently. One of her best recordings is "Alfie, " on the live album. Better than Barbra! She owns this song. She has an incredible repertoire with many hits. I wish that the concert that was shown on HBO and Soundstage would be put on DVD, with the incredible medley of all her hits. Her vocals are acrobatic on "Make it Easy On Yourself", and she holds a note on "Promises, Promises" for ages. Of course, her "I'll Never Love This Way Again, " is also one of her finest reocrdings, too.. Walk on By, Anyone Who Had a Heart, A House is Not a Home, The April Fools, Valley of the Dolls, Message to Michael, The Look of Love, etc. , are made for her. - visitor (8/3/2013)

IT IS A SHAME THAT IT TOOK YEARS TO GET ANOTHER POSITIVE AND WELL WRITTEN
(8-3-13) COMMENT ABOUT DIONNE WARWICK. HAVE HEARD HER IN CONCERT AT LEAST
20 TIMES AND SHE NEVER DISAPPOINTS. AT 73, HER CONSTANT TOURING AND RECORDING HAS TAKEN A TOLL ON HER VOICE, BUT HER BODY OF WORK SHOULD
KEEP HER AMONG THE TOP TEN BEST SINGERS OF ALL TIME. - visitor (2/6/2014)