Dionne Warwick is an American singer, actress, and television host with a net worth of $300 thousand. She has been one of the most influential and iconic singers for over six decades. Warwick has experienced financial problems on and off, and in 2013, she filed for personal bankruptcy as she had less than $25,000 in assets and $10 million in debt. She has been able to fix her finances, and some of her income streams include earnings from recordings, tours, acting roles, brand partnerships, and endorsements.
Details of Dionne Warwick’s Early Life and Family
Dionne Warwick was born on December 12, 1940, in East Orange, New Jersey. She was introduced to music at a young age as her mother managed the popular gospel choir, the Drinkard Singers, and her father was a gospel record promoter. This environment influenced her love for music, and as a teenager, she formed a group called the Gospel Aires with her sister, Dee Dee. The group sang backup for several artists in local venues and on recordings.
She attended the Hartt School of the University of Hartford in Connecticut in 1959, where she continued to pursue her passion for music. During this time, she met composer and producer Burt Bacharach, who invited her to sing on some. Her singing caught the attention of an executive at Scepter Records, leading to her signing with the label. Warwick married actor and drummer William Elliott in 1966. The couple had two sons, David and Damon. Damon Elliott is a music producer who has worked with artists such as Christina Aguilera and Pink.
Dionne Warwick’s Career Breakthrough
In 1962, Warwick released her first single, Don’t Make Me Over, which was a hit and marked the beginning of her successful career. She released 40 studio albums, five live albums, 25 compilation albums, and 96 singles, selling over 100 million records worldwide. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Warwick achieved several chart-topping hits, including Walk On By, Do You Know the Way to San Jose, and I Say a Little Prayer.
Her collaborations with Burt Bacharach and Hal David produced some of the most popular songs in pop and R&B history. In 1971, Warwick signed a $5 million contract with Warner Bros. Records, one of the largest contracts for a female artist at the time. She has appeared in films such as Alive in 1993, The Happy Time Murders in 2018, and Bird Box. Additionally, she is the voice behind animated series like Johnny Bravo and Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child.
Warwick made appearances as a television host, featuring on shows like The Midnight Special, Solid Gold, and Dionne! Warwick has been an advocate and served as a United Nations Global Ambassador. As a supporter of the American Foundation for AIDS Research, amfAR, she has helped raise funds and awareness for the cause by participating in events and campaigns. Warwick released the single That’s What Friends Are For in collaboration with Stevie Wonder, Elton John, and Gladys Knight, which raised millions of dollars for amfAR.
