Dionne Warwick - My Life as I See It: The Amazing Dionne Warwick Story

TO ALL my friends around the world:

I feel truly blessed in that those whom I refer to as friends (fans) were color-blind. They did not seem to notice that I was African American. I was and still am the artist singing the songs that they had grown to love and wanted to hear.

A huge thank-you goes out to all who were in my audiences at some point and those who purchased any of my recordings over these past fifty years.

Thanks for appreciating me not only for who I am, but for what I brought to you through my music.

When my music became popular throughout foreign lands such as France, England, Asia, Australia, Africa, Italy, Russia, Japan, the Arab Nations, and other parts of the world, it was a wonderful thing to experience. And, of course, I must include all of these regions when I say thank you for being supportive of my career for all of these wonderful years, without faltering.

Your loyalty to me through the hits and the dry periods when I had no new recordings on the market is very much appreciated.

Being one of the first in my peer group to travel throughout Europe and other continents gave me much to share with my friends and family, and for this, I am grateful. It has been quite an education for me as well, and one that will be with me eternally.

Thank you, friends!

Love,

Dionne

MY LIFE, AS I SEE IT
50 LESSONS LEARNED

1. Remove cant from your vocabulary. As Grandpa told me, If you can think it, you can do it!

2. Establish a strong spiritual foundation. This will help sustain you through lifes peaks and valleys.

3. Its never too late to pursue a passion. Do what makes you happy.

4. Encourage children to follow their dreams. Let them reach for the stars, and let them know youll be there no matter what.

5. Create a support mechanism. Family is extremely important.

6. Success is unpredictable, so remember that patience truly is a virtue.

7. Always have a backup plan.

8. Hold your ground; dont compromise.

9. Establish a mentor relationship with someone experienced in the area you are interested in pursuing.

10. Learn to distinguish constructive criticism from destructive criticism; be receptive to constructive criticism, as it may be helpful to your career.

11. Be and let be.

12. Love can be elusive.

13. Always be honest. (Find someone you can trust.)

14. Change is caused by circumstances.

15. Be prepared.

16. Follow your dreams; dedication will see you through.

17. True friendship never really ends.

18. A lull in employment can be a period of personal growth.

19. Nothing beats a failure but a try.

20. Its never too late to be a student.

21. Being the best aint such a bad thing.

22. You cant judge a book by its cover.

23. We are put here for the purpose of being of service to one another.

24. Caring and giving of time are the most precious things one can give another.

25. There but for the grace of God go I.

26. In battle, its always primary to know what and whom you are fighting. Education is essential.

27. Show business is all about timing.

28. Children come first, adult relationships second.

29. Share responsibility in a relationship.

30. Dont let your children wake up to an early morning stranger.

31. In a relationship, dont lose sight of we, you, and ours.

32. Mind your own business.

33. Age is just a number.

34. Your mind is the strongest part of your body.

35. Success will dissipate over time.

36. Perfect the craft of giving audiences more than what is expected of you.

37. Think of yourself as a brand.

38. Dress, speak, and walk with swagger.

39. Believe that you can and you are.

40. Be humble and be consistent.

41. Our children are mirror images of ourselves.

42. Its important to have God in the lives of children.

43. You never know who is watching you and learning from your actions.

44. Dont fall in love before you fall in like.

45. Laugh. Life is serious enough.

46. Be respectful.

47. Smile as often as possible.

48. You must not put a question mark where God puts a period.

49. Church is anyplace that you feel you want to have a conversation with God.

50. The truth prevails.

THERE IS no way that this book could have been written without the complete support of quite a few people, and they are:

First and foremost, God for giving me the ability to remember that far back in my life, and career stories that I thought I had forgotten.

My wonderful sons David and Damon, and all my grandchildren: Cheyenne, Lealand, Kaelyn, Neko, Mandela, and Maya.

My family, for giving me the upbringing instilling dignity, hope, happiness, love, and that huge amount of encouragement. My friends, for being my friends, and all of my extended friends, those you might call fans.

Dave Wooley, what can I say? Thank you do not seem to be the most adequate words to use. But for lack of better words, I say thank you for your tenacity, thoroughness, for jarring my memory with the right questions, for your expertise and unlimited knowledge you so generously shared with me, for all of the sleepless nights you spent editing and putting my thoughts in proper order. Also, I have to thank your daughters for allowing their daddy to let me take so much of his time when I know he really wanted to be with both of you. But most of all, Dave, I thank you for believing that your friend (me) could do this!

The publishing team, Judith Curr and Malaika Adero, for believing there was a story in me to share and for allowing me to tell it my way.

David Vance, for making me look so amazing in the photo. He has a wonderful way of doing this and has for many years.

Al Hunter Jr., thanks for your dedication and support for this project.

Special thanks to Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Thank you, Burt, for putting those wonderful melodies to the incredible words of Hal David. And thank you, Hal, for those incredible words that I was able to utilize in many of the descriptions in the book.

Thanks to my manager, agents, business associates, and office staff.

A very special thanks to: Henry Carr, Marcella Kingi, Vivian Anderson, Beverly Todd, Kevin Sasaki.

My awesome musicians: Kathy Rubbicco, piano and conductor; Todd Hunter, keyboards; Rob Shrock, keyboards; Renato Brasa, percussion; Jeffrey Lewis, drums; Ernest Tibbs, bass.

My wonderful team: David Krause, travel and merchandise manager; Tony Carr, Ellis McBurrows, Barbara Simpson, Neil Barr, Carlos Keyes, Red Entertainment Agency; Debbie Fowler, light design; Deanna Warrick, road manager; Barry Warrick, sound engineer.

I also have to thank all of the wonderful people who have worked with me over the years. You know who you are.

My grandpa, thanks for giving me the courage to continue to believe If you can think it, you can do it.

Last, but by no stretch of the imagination least, I want to thank myself. Yes, you read that correctly, I said I want to thank myself.

I thank me for being able to remember all that I did, for using all of the skills of typing that I learned in high school, for staying true to the task of meeting the deadlines I set for myself. Also for staying up late into the night after my shows in front of this HP laptop computer (thanks, Hewlett-Packard), and most of all for being able to deliver what I hope will inspire, encourage, and be able to provide a few pieces of useful information.