Dionne Warwick.

Born in East Orange, New Jersey, Dionne Warwick would sing for her church every Sunday ( Sound familiar? ). Warwick established fame at an early age. In 1962, she was discovered by Burt Bacharach and Hal David gaining her first hit "Don't Make Me Over". Within the decade she had 18 consecutive Top 100 Singles.

Last night, Dionne Warwick took us down memory lane at the bucolic Morristown Performing Arts Center. Even though she played for an hour with her granddaughter opening for her, Warwick, ever so humble, talked about friends, family and her great love, music.

As a multiple Grammy winner, Warwick was constantly on the radio in the 60's and 70's; she was a hit machine with numbers like " Walk on By, " San Jose", " Alfie", " This girls in Love". Ms Warwick with Bacharach and David would rack up 30 hit singles and 20 best- selling albums.

Dionne Warwicks musical genre crosses over between pop, gospel, and R&B . She transcended race, culture, and musical boundaries.

At 86 years old and still a heavy smoker, Ms. Warwick 's voice is still strong! Playing 14 songs last evening with most of the songs abbreviated, the evenings best song was her longest: " Do You Know The Way to San Jose". Accompanied by her granddaughter for the remainder four songs, it is evident that Ms Warwick is happy with her life, and with all she has done.

With a four piece band... a drummer, bass guitarist, bongo's, piano, Ms. Warwick belted out in a manner of succession for the most part one hit after another. Opening with "Walk On By", a fan favorite, Warwick set the band's arrangements to be somewhat Jazzy, the evening would also include soul, R&b with a blues infusion. Always the consummate pop artist "I'll Never Love This Way Again" the ninth song of the evening brought the crowd to a frenzy.

When you look back at her career, her song library is astounding; mega hits throughout the 60's and 70's... "I Say a Little Prayer" which went like a rocket to number one was the most played song on both commercial radio and main stream radio. Children and parents alike loved to listen to her music, she transcended generations. Even in the hippy generation, her songs got plenty of airtime an rock stations as well.

In 1976 Warwick signed with Arista records. By this time she was well into her third decade of making hits. With Barry Manilow producing her first album with her new label, it went platinum for her first time in her life. She would go onto that year to become the first woman to win both Best Female for Pop and R&B at the GRAMMY'S.

With simple lighting last night, the band and Warwick were front and center; her songs were the most important thing. When she attended Hartt College, Warwick was already making trips to New York City to do session work. At a young age she was already a force in the music business. I have always equated her to Diana Ross; both with exceptional talent; exceptional voices.

If her career wasn't brilliant enough in 1982, her album Heartbreaker was co-produced by Barry Gibb and the Bee Gees. This album was an international chart topper and it reunited her with many familiar friends such as Sir Elton John. "That's What Friends Are For" was her blockbuster hit on this album. She raised awareness and money for AIDS and World Hunger, which she still supports today.

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