Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 03/02/2022
While New Jersey native Dionne Warwick celebrates Women’s Month 2022, her legacy of achievement speaks for itself. Ms. Warwick celebrates with a national leadership award for leadership from educators, a CNN Film to honor her legacy, a residency in Las Vegas, and the growth of her interior design enterprise – WG Design Lab– with Bruce Garrick. National Women’s Month celebrates the vital role of women in American history and Ms. Warwick is a leader by example and a multi-dimensional success story.
On March 22, 2022, Bay Path University, along with a host of community collaborators will convene the sixth annual On the Move Forum to Advance Women with Dionne Warwick receiving the highest honor. The Forum acknowledges the power of untold women's history and the contributions made by and for women of all backgrounds. Janine Fondon, Founder of the On the Move Forum and Assistant Professor and Chair, Undergraduate Communications at Bay Path University, notes “We extend gratitude to Ms. Warwick for her leadership over many decades to inspire success in communities and across the country.”
With her entrepreneurial interests, Ms. Warwick’s success comes with welcoming the growth of her business with Bruce Garrick as Spring 2022 enters. Their Interior Design Company – WG Design Lab - is ready to restore, reset, and reimagine spaces.
The team of Warwick and Garrick focus on both domestic and international design with a portfolio of success stories featuring immaculate corporate spaces as well as luxurious homes.
To also recognize the legacy of Dionne Warwick, CNN Films announced it will present the document, “DIONNE WARWICK: Don’t Make Me Over” as a deeply personal, intimate portrait of the velvet-voiced songstress. The film yields insights into Warwick’s rise to music superstardom from singing in her grandfather’s church, to her life beyond the lights standing up to discrimination in America and around the world. The upcoming project refers to Ms. Warwick as "a deeply 'transformational leader.' Her extraordinary voice is a gift that she uses for her art, and always also as an instrument for creating positive change, compassion, and social justice, wherever she is.”
Ms. Warwick’s milestones as a woman of excellence are many. Here are just some of her accomplishments:
--Based on Billboard's Hot 100 pop singles chart, she is the second-most charted female vocalist during the rock era (1955-1999)
--Education: In 1959, Ms. Warwick received a music scholarship to the University of Hartford in Connecticut. At 18 years old, she attended the Hartt College of Music in Hartford, Connecticut – where she met Burt Bacharach.
---Values education by mentoring her childhood (Lincoln) elementary school which was renamed Dionne Warwick Institute of Economics and Entrepreneurship (Kindergarten to 5th grade) in East Orange, New Jersey.
--Ms. Warwick became the very first solo African American female artist to win a Grammy(R) in contemporary vocal performance, for 1968's "Do You Know the Way to San Jose."
--She has served as the U.S. Ambassador of health in 1987, a post that she held through both the Ronald Reagan and George Bush administrations.
--Ms. Warwick was one of the first artists to heighten public awareness of the AIDS epidemic, as well as supported efforts relating to LGBTQ+ equality. In 1985, "Dionne & Friends" (Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Elton John and Gladys Knight) recorded the highly acclaimed song, “That’s What Friends are For,” as a single to raise money for the American Foundation For AIDS Research (AmFAR).
--On October 16, 2002, Ms. Warwick was nominated to be Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
--In 2018, she received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
--Ms/ Warwick recently released her single, “Power in The Name”, which features rap star Krayzie Bone (from Bone Thugs-n-Harmony) and her son, NomaD (a.k.a. Damon Elliott) — with proceeds going to various charities that provide shelter and clothing.
In one article, Dionne Warwick was quoted as saying, “My self-imposed mandate is to be the voice for the voiceless.” She has done just that and more.
EVENT PREVIEWS
Essex County Summer Players Orchestra present "Made in America" on August 2nd
(LIVINGSTON, NJ) -- As local residents and friends stroll, bike or jog around the Livingston Oval on Tuesday evenings this July, musicians from several community orchestras are gathering in the township's high school band room to celebrate works "Made in America."
Middletown Arts Center presents Reina Williams + The Remedy
(MIDDLETOWN, NJ) -- The Middletown Arts Center presents a concert featuring Reina Williams + The Remedy on Thursday, July 23, 2026. Special guest performers Renee Maskin and Patrick Bamburak will open the show. Enjoy an evening of original music spanning reggae, hip-hop, soul, folk, Americana, and indie rock from some of New Jersey's most talented musicians. Showtime is 7:00pm.
Harmonium Choral Society presents "I Dreamed Last Night" on July 23rd
(MADISON, NJ) -- On Thursday, July 23, 2026, Harmonium Choral Society presents I Dreamed Last Night. Directed by Lennie Watts with music direction by John Fischer, I Dreamed Last Night is a one woman show with Gloria Bangiola. There are songs and stories about dreams, hopes, wishes, ambitions, fantasies, nightmares, impossibilities and that big ol' American one we are all still working to make real. Showtime is 7:00pm.
HOT 97's Summer Jam 2026 to Take Place July 24th at Prudential Center
(NEWARK, NJ) -- HOT 97, New York's #1 station for Hip Hop, is once again bringing the culture's biggest night back to the tri-state area with Summer Jam 2026, on Friday, July 24, 2026, at Prudential Center in Newark. Produced by The Black Promoters Collective, Summer Jam continues its legacy as the most iconic Hip Hop concert in the world.
Strand Center for the Arts presents Lover Taylor - Tribute to Taylor Swift on Friday
(LAKEWOOD, NJ) -- Swifties of all ages are invited to sing, dance and celebrate the music of one of pop's biggest superstars when Lover Taylor – Tribute to Taylor Swift comes to the Strand Center for the Arts on Friday, July 24, 2026 at 8:00pm.
Grammy-Winning Superstars Erica Campbell and Jonathan McReynolds to Headline 2026 Gospel Music Festival
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- Middlesex County, as part of its FolkLIVE free community event series, will host its third annual Gospel Music Festival in New Brunswick (2 Livingston Ave) on Saturday, July 25, 2026, from 3:30pm to 7:30pm. This year's star-studded lineup features multi-Grammy-winning performer Erica Campbell—known both for her solo work and as part of the dynamic "Mary Mary" duo—and Billboard chart-topper Jonathan McReynolds as the headliners.
Mahwah Museum Hosts "Unlock the Fretboard" Guitar Workshop with Mark Sganga on July 25th
(MAHWAH, NJ) -- Guitar players of all levels are invited to "Unlock the Fretboard," a hands-on guitar workshop taking place on Saturday, July 25, from 11:00am to 2:00pm, with a short break included, at The Mahwah Museum. The workshop will be taught by Mark Sganga, an International Fingerstyle Guitar Champion, bringing expert instruction and high-level musicianship to this special event. Designed to help players better understand the fretboard through a system of caged chords and scales, the workshop offers practical strategies that participants can apply immediately in their playing.
The 2026 Sourland Mountain Fest to Take Place July 25th
(RINGOES, NJ) -- The Sourland Mountain Fest is back for its 21st year on Saturday, July 25, 2026. It promises a summer afternoon of soulful talent, tasty bites, refreshing drinks and meaningful dialogue on why the Sourland Region is so important to Central Jersey, and why it's more important than ever to protect it. Performers include Gravity Hill, The Swiss Guard, Hickory, Jake Thistle, and headliners The Harrisons and Company.
Two River Theater presents Tiny Room Concerts with Joe Iconis
(RED BANK, NJ) -- Two River Theater presents Tiny Room Concerts w/ Joe Iconis, a concert series offering audiences an up-close and personal experience with one of musical theater's most celebrated songwriters. The series takes place July 23-25, 2026 in the Victoria J. Mastrobuono Library at Two River Theater.
Centenary Stage Company's Summerfest 2026 presents FOUR STICKS: The Music of Led Zeppelin on July 25th
(HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- Centenary Stage Company's Summerfest 2026 continues with an electrifying evening of classic rock as FOUR STICKS: The Music of Led Zeppelin takes the stage on Saturday, July 25, 2026 at 8:00pm in the Sitnik Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center.
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