Dionne Warwick is ready to go ball dancing.
Well, at least she will try to – after helping organize what may be one of the biggest events of its type during the historic inauguration of President Barack Obama on Jan. 20.
In an interview with BlackVoices.com this week, the five-time Grammy Award winning music legends quipped that she was "silently going crazy." But not in the literal sense – excitement is building because for the first time in her near 50-year career, she has taken on a brand new role; as the chair and host of 'The American Music Inaugural Ball,' taking place at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, D.C. on the night America swears in its very first black President.
"Watching [Obama], once he won the election and giving his speech to those wonderful faces that I looked at in Chicago and noticing the amount of youth, first of all, and the eclectic collection of races, colors, creeds and religions I'm sure, it dawned on me that these people should have access to this inauguration," Warwick explained about her inspiration to take on the new tasks. "I mean they're the ones that put him into office."
With upwards to 6,000 guests expected to be in attendance, the event is anticipated to be the biggest and most diverse ball of all balls in the nation's capitol.
"And little did I know the amount of work – oh my heavens, I can not tell you – I applaud the team that [event producer Guy Draper] put together down there in Washington," she noted. "They are doing a Trojan's job. I swear. But it is and has been well worth it. I cannot tell you how pleased I am with the way things are going along. And we certainly just hope that with all of the security and everything else that's going on, people are able to get to these balls."
Warwick's ball, in particular, is titled "Legends Ball" and will feature performances by Rodney Atkins, George Clinton, Chaka Khan, Marvin Sapp, The Temptations with Dennis Edwards, Harold Melvin's Blue Notes, Kirk Franklin, the H.B. Barnum Orchestra, The Caravans and Smokie Norful. Gospel powerhouse Yolanda Adams has been tapped to co-host the event.So outside of the amazing line-up of some of the biggest names in black music, what else makes this ball special from all the many others going on that night?
"Well, I think first of all, it's affordable," Warwick replied. "That's the first thing. And we're doing two balls; we're doing one that the youth will certainly enjoy hosted by Ludacris and Big Boi," she continued.
"We have such a variety of music that will be going on. We have gospel, we have R&B, we have pop, we have rap, we have hip hop. You name it, we've got it. And it's going to be the place to be."
Considered one of the world's greatest divas, the 'Walk On By' chanteuse is no stranger to the political arena. As former Ambassador of Health for United States during the Ronald Reagan Administration, she served as a roving reporter for 'Entertainment Tonight' during President Clinton's inauguration. She said she has also performed at The White House on quite a few occasions.
For the "Legends Ball," she promises "it's going to be chock full of those wonderful, wonderful performers.
"Were going to have a lot of fun,' she added. "It's going to be something for everybody."
Mel B Pictures
In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl "Mel B" poses for a photo wearing a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness, after a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**
AP
In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl "Mel B" poses for a photo wearing a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness, after a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**
AP
In this undated image released by Oxfam Tuesday Sept. 23, 2008, British singer Mel B participates in the 'In My Name' global campaign calling for action against poverty and demanding world leaders keep their promises on millennium development goals. (AP Photo/Oxfam, HO) ** NO SALES **
AP
In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl Mel B, left, serves as the emcee at a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. Mel B wears a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. The woman at right is unidentified. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**
AP
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: TV personality and designer Khloe Kardashian and Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard (R) pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
Getty Images
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Ultimo Scottish designer lingerie brand founder Michelle Mone (L) and pop singer Melanie Brown pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
Getty Images
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown poses backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
Getty Images
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown and Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard (R) pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
Getty Images
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown and singer Aubrey O'Day (R) poses backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
Getty Images
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown, Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard, singer Aubrey O'Day and TV personality and designer Khloe Kardashian pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
Getty Images
Comments: (11)
Add a comment
By: johnwmford on 1/16/2009 8:51PM
-- TV Personality/Author Omarosa Manigult-Stalworth is a nobody. Stop the madness!!!!!!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: j9318 on 1/16/2009 8:57PM
He is the nation's first mulato president. Don't forget he wasn't elected because of his skin color. He was elected because of his ability to lead. Just like McCain was not elected because he is caucasion. Let's leave race out of this please. It just sends the wrong message of why we've elected him.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Stevie B. on 1/17/2009 7:08AM
I agree, President Elect Obama was not elected because of skin color, however if you saw the comments from people at Mc Cain rallys it was clear that he was being supported because he was white. We still have that small and shrinking parts of this Country that cannot get past color. I believe the world will see the US in a new light.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: booboo on 1/17/2009 3:42PM
shut up # 2 and #3...he was voted in because he and his wife have the total package they are BLACK, HIGHLY EDUCATED,A FAMILY MAN, NO CRIMINAL RECORD,A LEADER FROM CHICAGO....AND BUSH LEFT THE COUNTRY IN SUCH A MESS UNTIL IT WILL TAKE 20 YEARS TO RECOVER,McCAIN AND PALIN ...I NEVER WOULD HAVE VOTED AT ALL,McCAIN GOING ON 80 YEARS OLD AND PALIN CAN SEE RUSSIA FROM HER BACK YARD,AND HER DAUGHTER IS A UNWED PREGNANT AND A HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT..AND THE BOYFRIEND IS A DROPOUT. DONT PALIN HAVE 2 OTHER DAUGHTERS THAT WILL POSSIBLY BE UNWED AND HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS..BECAUSE BIG SISTER DID IT...THIS DAY AND TIME I WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR OPRAH SO #2 & #3.... I DISAGREE WITH YOU BOTH.....RACE, PLUS HARVARD EDUCATION AND NO BABY MOMA DRAMA, NO POLITICAL CAPITOL HILL SEX SCANDALS, SOUNDS LIKE A WINNER TO ME....I DONT CARE IF HE IS A LIGHT SKINNED BLACK MAN AND HIS WIFE AND KIDS DONT LOOK TO BAD EITHER....ITS TIME FOR CHANGE...DONT BE HATE,N BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT PARENTS WERE BLACK AND WHITE THATS ALRIGHT WITH ME...THEY PRODUCED A WINNER...I VOTED FOR THE WINNER...I,M DARN GLAD HE RAN..EVEN HIS CABINET HAVE A LOT OF WOMEN IN IT ...ITS TIME FOR CHANGE , I,M LOVING IT.....GOD BLESS THE (UNITED) STATES OF AMERICA...NOW GIVE HIM A CHANCE...BUSH LEFT THE COUNTRY IN A MESS..MILLIONS AND BILLIONS DOLLAR SCANDALS,THE ECONOMY IN DEEP TROUBLE NO JOBS,FORECLOSERS..GOD BLESS THE MAN THAT IS NOW PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES BARACK OBAMA
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: BOOBOO on 1/17/2009 4:03PM
MR BUSH PLEASE.. JUST GO QUIETLY , WE DONT WANT TO SEE YOU ON TV OR HEAR YOUR FAREWELL SPEECHES.. OH AND PLEASE PARDON THOSE 2 BORDER PATROL OFFICERS FROM MEXICO WRONGFULLY IMPRISONED FOR DOING THEIR JOBS.... DO SOMETHING RIGHT BEFORE YOU LEAVE OFFICE.....I DONT CARE HOW MANY BLACK PEOPLE GO ON TV DURING INAUGURATION...SO WHAT ....I,LL WATCH THE WHOLE THING...GOD BLESS BARACK, CHANGE WILL NOT COME OVER NIGHT, SO EVERYBODY GIVE HIM A CHANCE TO GET THE COUNTRY BACK ON ITS FEET....PLEAse!!!!!!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: MINISTER ED on 1/17/2009 7:31PM
Think on those things we agree. Forget the past and thrust towards the mark of the high calling.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: mcobb123 on 1/18/2009 3:28AM
One of the many things, I believe that Martin Luther King, Jr. would want today, if he were still alive, would be truth taught in our schools. As many of us know, the fact that Native Americans (Muskogee, Cherokee, Seminole, Choctaw, Chickasaw etc) owned African American slaves is not taught in our schools and this must be changed. As a country we can only unite when bias is removed from our state funded educational institutions.
Here are a few books for open-minded people to read:
1) Black Indian Slave Narratives by Patrick Minges
2) Africans and Seminoles: From Removal to Emancipation by Daniel Littlefield
3) The American Indian as Slaveholder and Secessionist by Annie Heloise Abel
4) Black Indian Geneology Research: African American Ancestors Among the Five Civilized Tribes by Angela Y. Walton-Raji
5)Red over Black: Black Slavery among the Cherokee Indians by R. Halliburton
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: africanrise on 1/19/2009 9:52AM
Wow! Mulatto....I havn't read that word in years. Please bring yourself up-to-date!
africanrise
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: robbie on 1/19/2009 1:12PM
Mr. Obama is the product of a pure white mother and a pure black father. So he does not come from a lineage of slavery like the rest of us African- Americans, and therefore does not harbor the scars and resentment that has held the rest of us back for so many years. He was raised in other countries and learned the ways of many differant cultures, making him a perfect President for ALL People!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: anne on 1/20/2009 12:58PM
Who was the Black Rev. that said Brown, stick around, yellow, stay mellow, white do what's right. That I think could have been left out. As if White's dont do what's right. Does this bring unity? Please pass it on to him.
Reply to this Comment | Report This