Dionne Warwick, born Marie Dionne Warrick on December 12, 1940, in East Orange, New Jersey, is an acclaimed American singer known for her work in pop and rhythm and blues (R&B) music. Raised in a musically inclined family, Warwick's early exposure to gospel music came through her mother, who managed the Drinkard Singers, a renowned gospel choir. Her father was a gospel record promoter, and Warwick herself began singing in church at a young age. She formed a group called the Gospelaires with her sister Dee Dee, achieving some success as backup singers.

Warwick's career took a significant turn when she met composer Burt Bacharach during a recording session in New York. This meeting led to a fruitful collaboration with Bacharach and lyricist Hal David, resulting in her signing with Scepter Records. Her first single, "I Smiled Yesterday," was released in 1962, with its B-side "Don't Make Me Over" gaining popularity. A typographical error on the record led to her adopting the stage name Dionne Warwick.

Throughout the 1960s, Warwick released numerous hits, including "Walk On By," "I Say a Little Prayer," and "(Theme from) Valley of the Dolls." Her collaboration with Bacharach and David earned her significant acclaim and numerous chart-topping singles. In 1969, she won her first Grammy Award for "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?" and another in 1971 for "I'll Never Fall in Love Again."

Despite a brief career lull in the 1970s, Warwick experienced a resurgence with the release of the album "Dionne" in 1979, which sold a million copies. She continued to release successful albums in the 1980s, such as "Heartbreaker" and "How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye?" Warwick celebrated her 50th anniversary in the music industry in 2012 with the album "Now."

Warwick's contributions to music have been recognized with numerous awards, including six Grammy Awards, and she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024. She is one of the most-charted female vocalists of all time, with 56 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1962 and 1998. Additionally, she served as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization.