Dionne Warwick (/ˈdiːɒn ˈwɔːrwɪk/) (born Marie Dionne Warrick; December 12, 1940) is an American singer, actress and TV-show host, who became a United Nations Global Amba**ador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Amba**ador of Health. Having been in a partnership with songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Warwick ranks among the 40 biggest hit makers of the entire rock era, based on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Charts. She is second only to Aretha Franklin as the most-charted female vocalist of all time, with 69 of Warwick's singles making the Billboard Hot 100 between 1962 and 1998. Marie Dionne Warrick, later Warwick, was born on December 12, 1940 in East Orange, New Jersey, to Mancel Warrick and Lee Drinkard. Her mother was manager of the Drinkard Singers, and her father was a Pullman porter, chef, record promoter and CPA. She was named after her aunt on her mothers side.[2] Dionne had a sister Delia ("Dee Dee") who died in 2008 and a brother, Mancel Jr., who was k**ed in an accident in 1968 at the age of 21. Her parents were both African American, and she also has Native American, Brazilian and Dutch ancestry.[3] After finishing East Orange High School in 1959, Warwick pursued her pa**ion at the Hartt College of Music in Hartford, Connecticut.[4] She also landed some work with her group singing backing vocals for recording sessions in New York City. During one session, Warwick met Burt Bacharach, who hired her to record demos featuring songs written by him and lyricist Hal David.She later landed her own record deal.