The Legendary Dionne Warwick Returns!

As she prepares to perform at New York's historic Apollo Theater, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dionne Warwick calls in to talk about winning over the audience there and playing Red Rocks in the '60s. Now, go and listen to her spectacular records from that era and be overwhelmed with emotion!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, I hope you're great. I'm Brett Sanders and this
week on the podcast, let's talk with rock and roll
hall of famer, a legend, perhaps my favorite pop music
singer of all time, Dion Warwick. She's preparing to play
at New York's historic Apollo Theater and she decided she
wanted to talk about it. It's the Brett Sounders Podcast.

Speaker 2 (00:21):
Hi, how are you?

Speaker 1 (00:22):
I am terrific. It is always such a privilege to
hear your voice.

Speaker 2 (00:27):
Thank you. I appreciate that.

Speaker 1 (00:29):
Let's get right to what's going on. You're performing at
the Apollo Theater on June the twenty seventh. This means
a lot to you because I know you performed there
when you were just a kid right through that.

Speaker 2 (00:43):
We we're part of a gospel show and we decided
to enter the Gospel tarro amateur night, and as it
turns out, we won, Yeah, the tail dollars, and we
would thrilled.

Speaker 1 (01:01):
Well, I'm not surprised that you won. Did you know
then that this was what you wanted to do with
your life?

Speaker 2 (01:08):
No, not at all. Yeah, we just figured let's go
to amateur and I so we did, and had no
idea that we were going to win, but when we did,
it was like, boy, but this is something.

Speaker 1 (01:21):
Now the performance then at the Apollo Theater must have
genuinely changed the trajectory of your life.

Speaker 2 (01:27):
Deon, Oh, certainly, you know. Wean'sting things that when you
walk out on that particular stage, those that walked on
that stage prior to you, the icons, the actual icons
of our industry is standing in the footprints of those people.
And that takes a lot of courage, more than anything else,

(01:51):
to think that you're going to stand where ale this
Gerald stood or Sarah Bond stood, or or lean a
Horn or you know those kinds of people you revere
over the years, and all of a sudden you're standing
where they stood. Almost an impossibility, but when it happens,

(02:11):
it's something that kind of says that that's saying about
the Apollo is true, that if you can make it
at the Apollo, you can make it anywhere.

Speaker 1 (02:20):
Well, first of all, I want to say, now we
revere you in twenty twenty five, so the circle is unbroken.
Did you see shows at the Apollo, Because like you said,
if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.
I know that in the past the audience has been
tough on certain performers, right, and they're.

Speaker 2 (02:38):
Top on every performances. But yeah, it's the case they
don't like it, they let you know, and if they
do like it, they also let you know you know,
And that is I think the criteria. If you can
make it at the Apollo, you can make it anywhere.
They are very very particular about the talent that comes
through their.

Speaker 1 (02:58):
Tell me about the show that we're going to experience
on June the twenty seventh, dion No Thank.

Speaker 2 (03:03):
Me Ever, is basically a show answering all of those
Oh I thought you did this, but did you? Didn't
you do that? I know, you know that's not the truth.
The truth you're gonna get from me. You'll know what
I did, when I did it, how I did and
why I did it. You'll get to know Dionne Warwick

(03:26):
or real because it's coming directly from her.

Speaker 1 (03:30):
You've done so much. Could you tell me about something
that people have said that you have done but you
didn't actually do?

Speaker 2 (03:38):
Oh my oh that I am hard to talk to,
which is completely insane because I love talking and I
love talking to people and people love talking to me.
And where those myths come from. Those are kind of
put to bed.

Speaker 1 (03:58):
Hey, I wanted to ask you about Red Rocks. Do
you remember performing at Red Rocks, say in nineteen sixty nine?

Speaker 2 (04:04):
Du I love that that outdoor data is probably one
of the most beautiful places to perform in. I remember
that digitally. Yes I did. It was amazing, you know,
just to be able person all to sing outdoors for
one thing, but then to have that Red Rock behind

(04:25):
you while you're on that stage. It was quite an experience.
I must say that, Diane.

Speaker 1 (04:34):
You know the world is talking about Brian Wilson. Did
you know Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys? Did you
ever work with him?

Speaker 2 (04:41):
No? I did not know them. Of course he knew
his music. Of course everybody knew his music, but I
hadn't never had the pleasure of meeting him.

Speaker 1 (04:50):
Is there a specific achievement that makes you proudest out
of everything that you've done?

Speaker 2 (04:54):
You're not. I think basically people enjoying coming out to
see me and to hear me and enjoy what decading.

Speaker 1 (05:07):
Well, it's a privilege to talk with you. I've said
this to you before, I'll say it again. I love you,
Dion Warwick. Thank you for making our lives better.

Speaker 2 (05:16):
I appreciate that. Thank you so very much.

Speaker 1 (05:19):
Oh my favorite, Dion Warwick. I'm glad you listen. I'm Brett.
I'll see you next time. It's the Brett Sonders Podcast.