Rock Evolution – The History of Rock & Roll - 1962 (pg 69)

1962 would also see the beginning of the hugely successful trio of Americans in composer Burt Bacharach, lyricist Hal David, and the still amazingly talented singer Dionne Warwick. Bacharach would discover Warwick while she was performing background on the Drifters' recording of their 1962 release "Mexican Divorce".

Born Dionne Warrwick, the label spelled her surname incorrectly on the printing of her first single, and she was quite upset and angry when it happened. However, she began using the new spelling both professionally and personally afterwards after her grandfather convinced her to use it as her stage name. Her minister grandfather also originally got her into singing by putting her on the spot to sing in front of his church congregation cold, and the positive reception she received set her on that vocal path.

This song title originated when Warwick snapped the phrase at producers Bacharach and David in anger. This song is a Grammy Hall of Fame recording and it reached #5 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart, and more importantly, #21 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It would start Dionne down the road of bridging the welcome and needed crossover for a black female artist into popular music, that certainly wasn't present prior.

"Don't Make Me Over" - Dionne Warwick
 
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1962 would also see the beginning of the hugely successful trio of Americans in composer Burt Bacharach, lyricist Hal David, and the still amazingly talented singer Dionne Warwick. Bacharach would discover Warwick while she was performing background on the Drifters' recording of their 1962 release "Mexican Divorce".

Born Dionne Warrwick, the label spelled her surname incorrectly on the printing of her first single, and she was quite upset and angry when it happened. However, she began using the new spelling both professionally and personally afterwards after her grandfather convinced her to use it as her stage name. Her minister grandfather also originally got her into singing by putting her on the spot to sing in front of his church congregation cold, and the positive reception she received set her on that vocal path.

This song title originated when Warwick snapped the phrase at producers Bacharach and David in anger. This song is a Grammy Hall of Fame recording and it reached #5 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart, and more importantly, #21 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It would start Dionne down the road of bridging the welcome and needed crossover for a black female artist into popular music, that certainly wasn't present prior.

"Don't Make Me Over" - Dionne Warwick

A fantastic addition to the '62 story B&W. I imagine Bacharach and David and Warwick will continue to figure as we move forward. Connecting back to Sam Cooke, there was barely a black artist who didn't benefit from his influence or support and Warwick was no different. She was a backing singer on a tour of the southern states with Cooke. After one gig, local police boarded the tour bus to arrest Warwick for being rude to a white waitress :-( Cooke used his greater celebrity to face down the officers and remove them from the bus.
 

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