Dee Dee Phelps

Singing In Seattle

I haven’t written in my blog for a long time, as I’ve been mostly writing in Facebook. However I did want to write something longer and the blog is the perfect place for that.

We performed in a wonderful Doo Wop show in

On the bill with us were the Vibrations, The Fleetwoods (with

What made this snow extra special, for me, was the support the acts were giving each other back stage. Most of the acts watched from the wings, applauding each act as they came off and telling them what a good job they did. There was a feeling of harmony and validation. It unified the show and lifted it to a much higher level.

The Paramount Theatre staff catered a dinner for us, brought in from a local upscale restaurant. It was wonderful food, far more exceptional that the usual backstage fare.

Michael and I shared a dressing room with the Fleetwoods. There was obviously a private room attached for changing clothes. I enjoyed sitting with the group, talking about shows they’d done and what their lives were like. Their sound is so unique. Come Softly and Tragedy were always among my favorite songs and I loved hearing them live again.

Dodie Stevens and her daughter, Stephanie, performed for about fifteen minutes. I loved watching them. They gave a tribute to girls groups of the “Sixties” era, and sang a set that included Sally Go Round the Roses. I’ve had that song in my head for a week since hearing it. It was a one hit record for the original group, but as I recall, shot up the charts. I always loved that song. I was happy to make a new friend with Dodi and hope we work together again soon.

One of the more moving moments of the night was the standing ovation that Cleve Duncan (lead singer of the Penguins) got after singing the rock and roll, doo wop standard Earth Angel. To hear his timeless voice recreate that wonderful song was priceless. Someone said he was eighty years old! Is that possible?

On an interesting note, included in the show was a Doo Wop group called Deke and The Blazers. When I went to the Doo Wop Conference at the end of 2007 in

On February 14th, Michael and I sang as Dick and Dee Dee at the Doo Wop Show at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa. It was a fabulous show, with many great acts and a very receptive audience. We were fortunate to have Barry Fazman, our musical director, with us. He worked with Glen Raby and the Blue Suede Orchestra to get the classic Dick and Dee Dee sound.

The sound system was state of the art. What a joy to be able to hear yourself back so clearly, so you can make adjustments with your vocal volumn.

I was happy to see Kathy Young and talked to her at length about our touring days “back in the day.” She was on the first tour Dick and I ever went on when she was sixteen and I was eighteen. Who knew that so many years later we would be re-united on a stage. When I saw her sing “A Thousand Stars” at the rehearsal I had a flash back to the Texas tour and watching her sing it each night. I could even visualize the dress she wore.

I’m trying to post a photo to go with this blog entry, but haven’t been able to do so yet. It’s uploaded, but only in the Uncategorized area. Alas, the skills we need to keep current with today’s technology. I’m sure I’ll figure this out soon.

Election Day, 2008. While waiting to hear the first results of the election, I decided to up date the blog, something I haven’t done for awhile. Since I last wrote, my memoir, Vinyl Highway, won two awards, the first as a finalist (autobiography/memoirs) in the 2008 Next Generation Indi Book Awards and secondly, a finalist in the National USA Book News Best Book Award Autobiography category. I’ll be reading excerpts from Vinyl Highway with several other authors on Sunday, November 9^th at the Barnes & Noble Los Angeles Store at the Grove at 2pm.

Also, Michael and I will be singing as Dick and Dee Dee at the Ultimate Doo Wop Show held on stage at the Orange County Performing Acts Center on Valentine’s Day, February 14^th, 2009. That show starts at 8pm.

I want to thank all of you who are e-mailing me through the website. Your comments touch my soul and make my day. So many beautiful people out there.

Today, election day, I am reminded of how many decent, intelligent, and honorable Americans there are. Today we have a chance to change not only our country, but the world. The challenges have never been greater, but we have a potential leader that is up to the task. If all goes well, we will all know by tonight what direction we have chosen. I feel great joy this day that the right decision will be made.

Today our web designer released excerpts from the Dick and Dee Dee Musical Review, caught on video in the Los Angeles area last June. For those of you who have wanted to attend but couldn't come the distance, this is for you.

You can view the video on the Dick and Dee Dee website (www.dickanddeedee.com) or on YouTube. Please feel free to leave comments after watching it. We'd love to hear from you and hope to be doing a show in your area soon.

We're currently going into the studio to record a CD, which will include the Dick and Dee Dee ballads, as well as some of our other favorites from the great 60's music. If there are any particular songs you'd like to hear us sing, please send us a note. We're still in the song gathering process.

Hope you're having a beautiful summer. We want this lovely weather to last well into the Fall.

Sending out many blessings,

Dee Dee

Hi Dee Dee:
 
I received your book, and I must say you had what I believe is one of the most incredible journeys to stardom of any artist that I've interviewed during my 45 years in broadcasting.  I'm still reading it in between my time at the recording studio and preparing my show which in itself takes four days of prep and at least two to script and record.
 
I can't tell you how excited I am to present The Dick & Dee Dee Story with your music to the world. 'Tell Me' gets so many requests, and last year on my Top 100 most requested songs of 2007, it came in at #3 behind 'Eternally' by The Chantels,  'I'll Always Love You' by The Tokens. and 'My Heart Stood Still' by The Innocents.  My audience has always related well to ballads, which represent 90% of my request and dedication shows.
 
If you'd be so kind as to leave me a number where I might reach you to discuss an appropriate time, at your convenience, to do the interview.  I have a studio in my home as well, so time of day really dosen't matter.
 
Again, my deepest thanks for giving such wonderful memories to yesterday's teens!
 
Sincerely,
Dave Justice

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JULY 15, 2008

WE RECORDED AN HOUR INTERVIEW TO BE TITLED "THE DICK AND DEE DEE STORY" ON JULY 15TH. IT WILL AIR ON www.rocketradio.net. FOR 10 DAYS AS THE FEATURED INTERVIEW, POSSIBLY STARTING ON AUGUST 2ND. THIS INTERVIEW, UNLIKE MANY OTHERS, A GREAT DEPTH TO IT, WTH DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT I FELT ABOUT VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE DICK AND DEE DEE EXPERIENCE, ETC. DAVE WAS A WONDERFUL INTERVIEWER AND I FELT THE INTERVIEW WAS QUITE SPECIAL. WE WILL TRY TO POST IT, OR EXCERPTS OF IT, ON THE BLOG OR POSSIBLY THE DICK AND DEE DEE SITE.      DEE DEE PHELPS

 We’re still flying high after the success of our concert on June 22^nd.  The show sold out, with some overflow purchasing standing room only tickets. Enthusiastic and geared up, the audience supported us on every song. We opened with “Thou Shalt Not Steal”. Then I told a story about the first time Dick St. John and I ever sang on a stage.

We followed that with “Young and In Love” and then a rousing version of the Gary Bonds song, “New Orleans”. The instrumental featured our hot guitar, piano and sax players. The audience was jamming.

I spoke about the City of New Orleans and how more contemporary music styles came out of there than any other city in the United States. Then I told the history of the folk song, “All My Trials”. The lights lowered and, sitting on stools, Michael and I sang the ballad.

Giving tribute to Neil Diamond, we sang “I’m a Believer”, then the Everly Brothers version of “Let It Be Me”, followed by “Tell Me”.

I told how our first record happened to be recorded and we sang “The Mountain’s High”, followed by the Boyce and Hart song, recorded by the Monkees, “I Want to Be Free”.

After an up-tempo version of “Mocking Bird”, Michael introduced the band. We ended with a rock and roll medley that had the audience singing along and dancing in their seats. The medley songs were “Do You Want to Dance” and “Dancing in the Streets”.

For an encore, we slowed the tempo down with “Turn Around” and ended with Twist and Shout. My three adult children, one daughter-in-law and my husband surprised me by coming on stage. They presented me with bouquets of flowers. It was a sweet and touching tribute.

After the show we held a reception in the foyer and gave some live interviews. The evening was exhilarating and very special.

Right now the video crew is putting together a three minute clip of highlights from the show that we’ll be posting on the website and YouTube.

I’m so grateful to the musicians that joined us, Johnny Kito on synthesizer (musical director for the Mama’s and Papa’s and Gary Bonds European tour), Ben Davis on keyboards, Bray Ghiglia on electric and acoustic guitars and sax, Edward “Pookie” Dixon on drums (he toured with Billy Preston), Adam Clements on bass and Robby Martinez conducting and playing flute on “Turn Around”. There would have been no show without them!

I especially want to thank Michael Dunn for his amazing talent and help with the show. I’m fortunate to be singing with him.

Last Sunday evening, the love and support from the audience warmed my heart and we look forward to sharing the gift of song with audiences in the future.

We’re excited to announce a show we’re putting together with a number of professional musicians, called the Dick and Dee Dee Sixties Musical Review. Our

first performance is Sunday evening, June 22nd, at Theatre Palisades in Pacific Palisades, California.

For this hour and a half show, we’ll be singing all the Dick and Dee Dee hits, plus other Sixties favorites, as well as showing a DVD of the Scopitone video (Where Did All The Good Times Go) and the last Shindig Show in which we sang Lighting Strikes.  We have some amazing people on instruments, with a string section as well. A video of the show will be taped, which we will send to promoters booking Doo Wop acts.  If any of you are in the Los Angeles area on that date, we hope you’ll drop by. Keep watching the website and blog for an official flyer, due to post by May 15^th.