Profile Text
Warwick in 2011, photo by kathclick /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Dionne Warrick
Place of Birth: East Orange, Essex, New Jersey, U.S.
Date of Birth: December 12, 1940
Ethnicity: African-American, with small amounts of English, Irish, and Scottish
Dionne Warwick is an American singer, actress, and television show host. Dionne ranks as the 20th most popular hit-maker of the entire rock era (1955–1999), based on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Charts. According to Billboard Magazine, Warwick ranks second only to Aretha Franklin as the most popular female vocalist, with 56 chart singles on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts from 1962 through 1998. She is a U.N. Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a U.S. Ambassador of Health.
Her parents, mother Arthur Lee (Drinkard) and father Mancel Leland Warrick, were African-American, and she also has a small amount of English, Irish, and Scottish ancestry. Her sister was singer Dee Dee Warwick. Her aunt was soul and gospel singer Cissy Houston . She is a first cousin of Cissy’s children, professional basketball player Gary Garland and singer and actress Whitney Houston ; a first cousin, once removed, of Whitney’s daughter, reality television personality and singer Bobbi Kristina Brown ; and a cousin of spinto soprano Leontyne Price (Mary Violet Leontyne Price). Her mother’s family formed a family gospel group, The Drinkard Jubilairs, later The Drinkard Singers, who recorded the first gospel album on a major label. Her name was changed to Warwick because of a printing error on the cover of her first album.
Dionne has two children, including producer, singer, songwriter, and composer Damon Elliott, with her former husband, actor and musician William Elliott.
Dionne’s aunt Cissy had stated in an interview that she had Dutch and Native American ancestors. It is not clear if this Dutch and/or Native American ancestry has been verified/documented.
A DNA test whose results were displayed on the show Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2024) stated that Dionne’s genetic ancestry consists of:
*80% African ——–*24% Nigeria ——–*23% Benin & Togo ——–*14% Cameroon, Congo, & Western Bantu Peoples ——–*9% Mali ——–*6% Ivory Coast & Ghana ——–*4% Senegal *19% European ——–*9% England & NW Europe ——–*5% Ireland ——–*3% Scotland ——–*2% Germanic Europe *1% Asian ——–*1% Southern Philippines
*80% African ——–*24% Nigeria ——–*23% Benin & Togo ——–*14% Cameroon, Congo, & Western Bantu Peoples ——–*9% Mali ——–*6% Ivory Coast & Ghana ——–*4% Senegal *19% European ——–*9% England & NW Europe ——–*5% Ireland ——–*3% Scotland ——–*2% Germanic Europe *1% Asian ——–*1% Southern Philippines
Dionne’s paternal grandfather was The Rev. Elzae/Elzie Warrick/Wauvick (the son of John W. Warrick and Emma Key). The Rev. Elzae was born in Dothan, Geneva, Alabama. John likely was born in Barbour County, Alabama.
Dionne’s paternal grandmother was Juanita “Neatie” Holland (the daughter of Lawson/Lanson Holland and Clarkey B. Russ). Juanita was born in Cottondale, Jackson, Florida. Clarkey was the daughter of Guy Russ and Mary Ann Russ.
Dionne’s maternal grandfather was Nitcholas/Nicholas Arthur “Nitch” Drinkard (the son of John Drinkard, Jr. and Susie/Susan Belle/Bell “Delia” Fuller). Nitcholas was born in Hilton, Early, Georgia. John was born in Blakely, Early County, the son of John Drinkard, Sr., who was born in Mississippi, and was a landowner near the border of Georgia and Alabama; and of Victoria Hansom. Dionne’s great-grandmother Susan was born in Talbotton, Talbot County, Georgia.
Dionne’s maternal grandmother was Adelia/Delia Mae McCaskill (the daughter of Stephen McCaskill and Emma L. Houston). Adelia was born in Freeport, Walton County, Florida. Stephen was the son of Annie/Ann Hogan, who was black, and likely of John Jett McCaskill, who was white. Emma was the daughter of Oliver Houston and Rachel/Rachael Hill.
Sources: Genealogies of Dionne Warwick – http://www.geni.com https://famouskin.com
Genealogies of Dionne’s parents – https://www.findagrave.com
Dionne’s maternal great-grandparents, John Drinkard, Jr. and Susie/Susan Belle/Bell Fuller, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Dionne’s maternal grandmother, Adelia/Delia Mae McCaskill, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Dionne’s maternal great-grandparents, Stephen McCaskill and Emma L. Houston, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Dionne’s maternal great-grandfather, Stephen McCaskill, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org