'Walk On By' legend Dionne Warwick releases new song more than 60 years into her music career

3 November 2023, 10:07

She's ticked every box during her illustrious music career.

If there's one superlative you can use for 'Walk On By' singer Dionne Warwick, it is legendary.

Since the release of her debut single 'Don't Make Me Over', the R&B icon has been an ever-present in music charts around the world, from decade to decade.

It was the Burt Bacharach-penned, breezy soul ballad 'Walk On By' which break Dionne into global success, though her star has shined consistently for the 60 years since.

Releasing a total of 40 albums, she has sold an eye-watering 100 million records worldwide, won six Grammy Awards, been honoured with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, received her own star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, and may add a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction soon at the second time of asking.

• Burt Bacharach's 15 greatest ever songs, ranked
• Songwriting icon Burt Bacharach has died, aged 94

Using her musical talents for charitable causes too, Dionne raised millions of dollars for AIDS research with her 1985 hit 'That's What Friends Are For' with Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and Gladys Knight.

At the age of 82, you'd think she'd settle with her seemingly endless list of achievements and accolades, but no. Not Dionne Warwick.

After releasing the single 'Peace Like River' with Dolly Parton earlier this year, the legendary singer has returned with another festive song called 'Merry Mission', just as the Christmas season has begun.

To coincide with the release, Warwick recently spoke to People magazine about the meaning of her song, working with her son, and becoming an idol for new generations of artists.

'Merry Mission' is the soundtrack for the upcoming animated Christmas movie, Glisten and The Merry Mission, which Dionne also stars in.

She voices the motherly character Sage Evergreen, and features alongside country superstar Billy Ray Cyrus and comedy icon Chevy Chase.

Merry Mission by @DionneWarwickOfficial from the "Glisten and the Merry Mission" Movie!

Keeping it in the family - which Dionne calls her "favourite holiday tradition" - 'Merry Mission' was written by her son, the Grammy Award-winning producer and composer Damon Elliott.

Talking about the experience working with Damon, she said: "It was a bunch of fun. It really was."

"Once he told me what he was doing and what the film was about, I said, "Well, sure, I'd love to be a part of this." So it's been wonderful working with him, absolutely wonderful."

Walk on By

Asked whether or not she has advice for younger artists entering the music business, she said frankly: "No, I don't give advice at all. I don't see the point of giving advice. Nobody takes it anyway."

Dionne was cousins with Whitney Houston, and saw first-hand how detrimental the pressures of fame and success can be.

She continued: "If I'm asked a question, I have no problem answering it. But not only artists, but people generally, they have questions that they have posed to me."

"I try to give them what I feel is the appropriate answer — that's sometimes not what they want to see or hear as an answer. But if you don't want to know, don't ask me."

There's evidently still plenty of passion and creativity in the iconic singer still, who intends to release a gospel album next year titled Songs Of Inspiration.

To coincide with the 60th anniversaries of her classic 1964 albums Anyone Who Had A Heart and Make Way For Dionne Warwick, she'll be celebrating sixty years of songs such as 'Walk On By', 'Wishin' and Hopin' which was later a hit for Dusty Springfield.

Make Way For Dionne Warwick also featured the first recording of '(They Long to Be) Close to You', which would become a global hit for The Carpenters in 1970.

Defiant about her youthful exuberance even in her eighties, when asked what keeps her feeling young, Dionne replies: "Because I am young."