DIONNE WARWICK: Happy 77th birthday to a musical legend
Dionne Warwick turns 77 today. Dionne is urging her fans these days to help her fight hunger across the country. Here's a look at her amazing musical achievements over the decades:
- One of the few stars to score Top 10 hits in the 1960s, '70s and '80s.
- "Don't Make Me Over" became her pop breakthrough in the winter of 1963.
- "Anyone Who Had a Heart" became her first Top 10 hit.
- Dionne got top billing on the 1985 charity single "That's What Friends Are For."
- She first came to the attention of producer Burt Bacharach and Scepter Records owner Florence Greenbergwhen she sang backup on a Shirelles session.
- Her name was misspelled on "Don't Make Me Over," so Dionne Warrick became famous as Dionne Warwick. (For a few years in the early '70s, she spelled it with an "e" at the end.)
- Her cousin is soul and gospel singer singer Cissy Houston, the mother of Whitney Houston.
- Dionne shares her birthday with two other New Jersey legends: Frank Sinatra and Connie Francis.
- Her 1982 Top 10 hit "Heartbreaker" was written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb and featured Barry singing backup.