b. Dee Dee Garrett, 27th May 1950, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A.
Dee Dee Bridgewater is one of the finest jazz singers of her generation, although through her career she has moved through fusion and soul music on her musical journey.
Dee Dee was married to trumpeter Cecil Bridgewater in the early 70's.
Later a relocation to France brought a new appreciative audience during the 1980's.
Dee Dee performed in Michigan during the 1960's and toured the Soviet Union in 1969 with the University of Illinois big band.
She sang with the Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra (1972-74) and appeared in the Broadway musical 'The Wiz' (between 1974 and 1976).
She appeared in the show 'Lady Day' and at European jazz festivals, and eventually formed her own backup group.
During the late 1970's, two albums, 'Just Family' and 'Bad For Me', proved popular amongst soul and fusion fans, featuring her version of 'Tequila Mockingbird' on the former and the dancer 'Sweet Rain' on the latter.
By the late 80's Dee Dee Bridgewater's Verve recordings were starting to awaken American listeners as to her singing talents.
Her 1995 Horace Silver tribute disc ('Love and Peace') is a gem and resulted in the singer extensively touring the U.S, reintroducing her to American audiences.
She would find even more success with her tribute album, 'Dear Ella', which won a Grammy in 1997.
With soul fans, Dee Dee Bridgewater is remembered for her songs from her 1980 self-titled set including 'One In A Million You' and 'Lonely Disco Dancer'.
Her 1974 album 'Afro Blue', now costs upwards of £100 these days being highly sought after on the UK jazz club scene.
Albums:
Afro Blue (Trio Records 1974)
Dee Dee Bridgewater (Atlantic Records 1976)
Just Family (Elektra Records 1977)
Bad for Me (Elektra Records 1979)
Dee Dee Bridgewater (Elektra Records 1980)
Live in Paris (MCA Records 1986)
In Montreux [live] (Verve Records 1990)
Keeping Tradition (Verve Records 1992)
Love and Peace: A Tribute to Horace Silver (Verve Records 1995)
Dear Ella (Polygram Records 1997)
Victim of Love (Charly Records 1998)
Live at Yoshi's (Polygram Records 2000)
This Is New (Verve Records Records 2002)
J'ai Deux Amours (Sovereign Artists Records 2005)
Red Earth (Emarcy Records 2007)
Midnight Sun (Emarcy Records 2011)
