Michaels Comment on Singing as Dick and Dee Dee
Mar 29th, 2008 by deedee
It's a great privilege to be part of the new "Dick and Dee Dee" - and such an unexpected opportunity! I've known Dee Dee for years (in fact, we go to the same church) and knew that she was big in the music scene in the early 60s, but never guessed at the great popularity that she and Dick St. John had in those days. I was listening to pop music back then, and never missed "Shindig" - so I saw Dick and Dee Dee probably every time they were on the show. When Dee Dee decided to perform publicly again, Dick's untimely passing (several years ago) meant that a new singing partner would have to be found. When a mutual friend suggested that she contact me, neither of us had any idea of how we would sound together. The Dick and Dee Dee sound had a lot to do with the great blend of those two voices - would we be able to replicate it?
I stayed up most of the night before our first practice, reading Dee Dee's wonderful book "Vinyl Highway" - a colorful memoir of those amazing years. We got together next day around Dee Dee's piano, and put "The Best of Dick and Dee Dee" on the CD player, sang along with it, and then the moment of truth - we turned the original recording off, and just sang by ourselves.
Well, it sounded pretty good to me, but the question was - what did Dee Dee think? After all, she needed to find not just an excellent and experienced singer with the right range (and Dick had a pretty amazing range!), but that special blend that made the Dick and Dee Dee sound. I recall that Dee Dee got this kind of surprised look on her face, and said something like, "Gosh, you know…that sounds pretty good!"
The more we sang, the better it sounded. Dee Dee's growing enthusiasm made it clear enough to me that she felt confident that her old fans would hear again the magical sound that she and Dick St. John first made famous with "The Mountain is High."
Soon the fans themselves will have the chance to hear it - I think I can promise it will be worth the wait!
Michael Dunn
Thanks for writing, Michael! Please don’t be a stranger on the blog.
I, for one, am VERY MUCH looking forward to hearing the Dick & Dee Dee sound again….LIVE and IN PERSON! Congratulations to the two of you. I see much success ahead! Who knows….possibly some new recordings as well???
Hello Michael,
It was great to hear things are going well for you and Dee Dee. The announcement has generated very much excitement for all of us long time Dick & Dee Dee fans. We look forward to seeing you and Dee Dee sing together. Any time I get a chance to walk down memory lane I take it. It will be such a pleasant walk with you and Dee Dee. Thanks again.
Hi Michael!
I have long been a fan of the original Dick and Deedee music. I was in grade school in Hawaii when I first saw their album Young And In Love. It was the purple that caught my eye, and then came the music. That’s all it took for me! Ahhh, young love is so innocent!
After the 60’s the duo seemed to disappear from the forefront and the music turned itself to the British Invasion.
I found Deedee’s website one night while surfing the net and just so happened to put DandDD on the search engine and poof! there she was!!! I started emailing her and managed to find the CD on my own at the Virgin Record store in Ontario Mall.
I love looking at the youtube site…so many wonderful recollections to enjoy. I look forward to seeing Deedee now that I’m old enough to travel and go to concerts on my own!! hahaha….. anyway, good luck and I hope it all goes well for you.