Dee Dee Bridgewater

Throughout the month of March, KUVO celebrates Women’s History Month by recognizing the contributions of notable women from the past who have impacted music. We will also be spotlighting women of the present who are actively creating memorable music today.

One of the best jazz singers of her generation, Dee Dee Bridgewater had to move to France to find herself. She performed in Michigan during the ’60s and toured the Soviet Union in 1969 with the University of Illinois Big Band. She sang with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis orchestra (1972-1974) and appeared in the Broadway musical The Wiz (1974-1976). Due to erratic records and a lack of direction, Dee Dee was largely overlooked in the jazz world by the time she moved to France in the ’80s. She appeared in the show Lady Day and at European jazz festivals, and eventually formed her own backup group. By the late ’80s, Bridgewater’s Verve recordings started to alert American listeners to her singing talents. more Artist biography by Scott Yanow – AllMusic.com

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