By David Thompson
Music icon Dionne Warwick will be honored with the unveiling and naming of the Dionne Warwick Theater at Bowie State University’s Fine and Performing Arts Center on Saturday, April 1, at 11:00 a.m. It will be the first performance venue named in her honor.
“We are very grateful that Dionne Warwick recognizes the value of this storied institution, and for lending her iconic name to the Main Stage Theater inside of our Fine and Performing Arts Center,” said Brent Swinton, Bowie State University’s vice president of Institutional Advancement. “Given the rich history of artists and performers such as Myles Frost who have originated from this university, the naming is even more appropriate because of Ms. Warwick’s lifelong advocacy for higher education, healthcare and the arts.”
Warwick is one of the most charted vocalists of all time, with 56 of her singles making the Hot 100 between 1962 and 1998 (12 of them Top 10) and 80 singles making the Hot 100, R&B or adult contemporary charts. She has sold over 100 million records worldwide and has won numerous awards, including six Grammys. She has been inducted into the Hollywood Hall of Fame, Grammy Hall of Fame, R&B Music Hall of Fame and the Apollo Theater Walk of Fame.
“The Dionne Warwick Theater will host concerts, plays and other performances with her name elevating the venue to another level,” Swinton said.
Doug E. Fresh and BeBe Winans are among a who’s who of music celebrities, corporate leaders, politicians and other officials from across the nation who will be in attendance at the event. The program includes Ms. Warwick and Bowie State President Aminta Breaux cutting a ribbon to reveal the Dionne Warwick Main at Bowie State University.
Saturday morning’s tribute at the Fine and Performing Arts Center will solidify the university’s relationship with one of the world’s renowned female vocalists and the new partnership between Bowie State and Dionne Warwick.
