Dee Dee Sharp

American R&B singer (born 1945)

Dee Dee Sharp

Birth name| Dione LaRue
Born|  (1945-09-09) September 9, 1945 (age 79)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres| R&B, soul
Occupation| Singer
Years active| 1961–present
Labels|

* Cameo
* Atco
* Atlantic
* Gamble
* Philadelphia International
* Highland Music, Inc.

Website| deedeesharp.net

Musical artist

Dee Dee Sharp (born Dione LaRue; September 9, 1945)[1] is an American R&B singer.

After beginning her career as a backing vocalist, Sharp had a string of hit records as a solo artist in the 1960s: "Mashed Potato Time" (1962), "Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)" (1962), "Ride!" (1962), and "Do the Bird" (1963). She later had dance hits with the songs "Share My Love" (1975) and "Breaking and Entering" (1981).

## Life and career

[edit]

### Early life and education

[edit]

Sharp began playing the piano from an early age and directed church choirs for her grandfather's and other congregations in her hometown of Philadelphia.

She grew up in North Philadelphia and graduated from Overbrook High School.[2]

### Career

[edit]

When Sharp was thirteen, her mother suffered a car accident, which spurred her to find a singing job to help support the family while her mother recovered from her injuries.[1][3][4] After Sharp promised to keep up with her schooling, she received her grandmother's blessing.[5][3] Sharp responded to an ad in the daily news for backup singers. Her first job was with Willa Ward Moultrie and was soon singing backup vocals for the likes of Lloyd Price, Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell, Frankie Avalon and Jackie Wilson.[1][5][3][4]

According to Sharp, Chubby Checker discovered her.[2] When she was providing backing vocals during one of his recording sessions, he suggested her to Bernie Lowe, head of Cameo-Parkway Records.[2] After she sang with Checker on his hit single "Slow Twistin'," (1962) Lowe was keen to make her a solo artist.[6] She was later asked to accompany Checker as his opening act when he was scheduled to appear at the 1962 Seattle World's Fair.[2]

In 1962, she was signed by Cameo-Parkway and was re-christened Dee Dee Sharp by producers Kal Mann and Bernie Lowe.[1][4] At the time, her brother called her "Dee" and since she sang in "D sharp" she was given this new identity.[5] She produced a string of successful Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits: Mashed Potato Time" (#2), "Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)" (#9), "Ride!" (#5) and "Do the Bird" (#10).[1] Both "Mashed Potato Time" and "Ride!" each sold over one million copies, and were awarded gold discs.[7] "Do the Bird" provided her only entry in the UK Singles Chart, where it peaked at #46 in April 1963.[8]

From 1962 to 1981 she appeared several times on American Bandstand, the ABC Television Network music-performance and dance series hosted by Dick Clark. She was also a regular feature on Clark's Caravan of Stars tours.[3][1] In 1965 Sharp performed the jazz song "Steady, Steady" on the Ed Sullivan show. Unhappy with record sales, she switched to Atco/Atlantic Records in 1966.

In 1967, Sharp married Kenny Gamble of the songwriting and production duo Gamble & Huff.[9] Sharp recorded for Gamble Records and Philadelphia International, and she worked with Gamble & Huff behind the scene at various iterations of TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) Records.[9]

As Dee Dee Sharp Gamble, she had a career resurgence during the disco era and hit the charts again with her version of 10 CC's "I'm Not In Love." She also joined Lou Rawls, Billy Paul, Teddy Pendergrass, The O'Jays and Archie Bell as a member of the Philadelphia International All Stars, who had a minor hit with "Let's Clean Up the Ghetto." In 1980 she spent four weeks at number one on the Hot Dance Club Play chart with "Breaking and Entering" / "Easy Money," from her album Dee Dee.[1]

In 1992, Sharp's 1962 hit "Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)" was featured in a scene in the American movie comedy Sister Act which starred Whoopi Goldberg. It was also included as part of the film's soundtrack album. More recent appearances included a performance at Pontins in the UK for the Northern Soul Show, and at the 2008 Detroit Jazz Festival. In May 2009, she appeared in Belgium at the Salle De L'Hotel de Ville.[citation needed]

## Personal life

[edit]

In a documentary film, Muhammad Ali: The Whole Story (1996), Sharp revealed that she was engaged to boxer Muhammad Ali in 1964.[10] After defeating Sonny Liston for the heavyweight title in Miami, Ali proposed to her, but he insisted on consulting Malcolm X before making any final plans.[11] Sharp was allegedly told by Malcolm X that they could only get married if she agreed to become a black Muslim.[11] Sharp's mother called off the engagement when she learned of the conversion requirement.[11]

Sharp was married to Kenny Gamble from 1967 to 1980, during which time she was known as Dee Dee Sharp Gamble.

Sharp and her husband Bill Witherspoon reside in Medford, New Jersey.[12]

## Awards

[edit]

On November 9, 2013, the prestigious Sandy Hosey Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed upon Sharp by the Artists Music Guild. Sharp thought she was in attendance to bestow the honor upon her longtime friend, Chubby Checker when she was surprised with her own honors. The Sandy Hosey Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to five artists every year by the Guild.[13]

## Discography

[edit]

Dee Dee Sharp has released 9 studio albums and 14 compilation albums.

### Studio albums

[edit]

Year  | Album  | Peak chart positions

|
|

[14] | US R&B
[14]
1962  | It's Mashed Potato Time | 44  | —
Songs of Faith | —  | —
Down to Earth (with Chubby Checker) | 117  | —
1963  | Do the Bird | —  | —
Down Memory Lane | —  | —
Wild | —  | —
1975  | Happy 'Bout the Whole Thing | —  | 48
1977  | What Color Is Love
(as Dee Dee Sharp Gamble, in association with Kenneth Gamble) | —  | —
1980  | Dee Dee | —  | 59
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

### Compilation albums

[edit]

* 1963: 18 Golden Hits
* 1963: All the Hits
* 1963: Biggest Hits
* 1979: Cameo-Parkway Sessions
* 1993: All the Hits & More
* 1995: All the Golden Hits
* 1998: What Color Is Love / Dee Dee
* 2004: Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell, Dee Dee Sharp – Bobby Rydell & Chubby Checker and Down to Earth
* 2005: Best of Dee Dee Sharp 1962–1966
* 2006: Sharp Goes Wild
* 2010: It's Mashed Potato Time / Do the Bird
* 2010: Happy 'Bout the Whole Thing + What Color Is Love + Dee Dee
* 2015: Hurry On Down, It's Mashed Potato Time
* 2020: The Queen of Rhythm & Blues

### Singles

[edit]

Year  | Single (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated | Label and number  | Chart positions  | Album
*Wyncote label compilations of various Cameo-Parkway artists

|
|
|
|

[14] | US R&B
[14] | US Dance
[14] | CAN
[15][16] | UK
[8][17]
1962  | "Mashed Potato Time"
b/w "Set My Heart at Ease" (Non-album track) | Cameo 212  | 2  | 1  | —  | 2  | —  | It's Mashed Potato Time
"Slow Twistin'" (Chubby Checker & Dee Dee Sharp)
b/w "La Paloma Twist" (by Chubby Checker, non-album track) | Parkway 835  | 3  | 3  | —  | 18[18] | —
"Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)"
b/w "Baby Cakes" (Non-album track) | Cameo 219  | 9  | 11  | —  | 12  | —
"Ride!"
b/w "The Night" (Non-album track) | Cameo 230  | 5  | 7  | —  | 15  | —  | All the Hits by Dee Dee Sharp Volume II
1963  | "Do the Bird"
b/w "Lover Boy" (from Hullabaloo with the Stars*) | Cameo 244  | 10  | 8  | —  | 32  | 46  | Do the Bird
"Rock Me in the Cradle of Love"
b/w "You'll Never Be Mine" (from Hullabaloo with the Stars*) | Cameo 260  | 43  | —  | —  | 36  | —  | Biggest Hits
"Wild!"
b/w "Why Doncha Ask Me?" (from Do the Bird) | Cameo 274  | 33  | 25  | —  | 27  | —  | All the Hits with All the Stars*
1964  | "Where Did I Go Wrong" /  | Cameo 296  | 82  | —  | —  | —  | —  | Shindig with the Stars*
"Willyam, Willyam"  | 97  | —  | —  | —  | —  | Hullabaloo with the Stars Vol. 2*
"Never Pick a Pretty Boy"
b/w "He's No Ordinary Guy" (Non-album track) | Cameo 329  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | Hits a Go-Go with the Stars*
"Deep Dark Secret"
b/w "Good" | Cameo 335  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | Non-album tracks
"To Know Him Is to Love Him"
b/w "There Ain't Nothin' I Wouldn't Do for You" | Cameo 347  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
1965  | "Let's Twine"
b/w "(That's What) My Mama Said" | Cameo 357  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
"I Really Love You"
b/w "Standing in the Need of Love" | Cameo 375  | 78  | 37  | —  | 28  | —
1966  | "(It's Wonderful) The Love I Feel for You"
b/w "Willyam, Willyam" | Fairmount 1004  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
"It's a Funny Situation"
b/w "There Ain't Nothin' I Wouldn't Do for You" | Cameo 382  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
"My Best Friend's Man"
b/w "Bye Bye Baby" | Atco 6445  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
1967  | "What Am I Gonna Do"
b/w "(Heart and Soul) Baby I Love You" | Atco 6502  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
1968  | "We Got a Thing Going On"
b/w "What 'Cha Gonna Do About It"
Both tracks: Ben E. King & Dee Dee Sharp | Atco 6557  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
"A Woman Will Do Wrong"
b/w "You're Just a Fool in Love" | Atco 6576  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
"Help Me Find My Groove"
b/w "This Love Won't Run Out" | Atco 6587  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
"What Kind of Lady"
b/w "You're Gonna Miss Me (When I'm Gone)" | Gamble 219  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
1970  | "The Bottle or Me"
b/w "You're Gonna Miss Me (When I'm Gone)" | Gamble 4005  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
1971  | "Conquer the World"
b/w "We Got a Thing Going On"
Both sides: Dee Dee Sharp Gamble with Bunny Sigler | Philadelphia International 3512  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
1974  | "Happy 'Bout the Whole Thing"
b/w "Touch My Life" | TSOP 4776  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | Happy 'Bout the Whole Thing
1975  | "Share My Love"  | Album cut  | —  | —  | 6  | —  | —
1976  | "I'm Not in Love"
b/w "Make It Till Tomorrow" | TSOP 4778  | —  | 62  | —  | —  | —
1977  | "Nobody Could Take Your Place"
b/w "Flashback" | Philadelphia International 3625  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | What Color Is Love
"I'd Really Love to See You Tonight"
b/w "What Color Is Love" | Philadelphia International 3636  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
1978  | "Just as Long as I Know You're Mine"
b/w "I Believe in Love" | Philadelphia International 3638  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
"I Wanna Be Your Woman"
b/w "Trying to Get the Feeling Again" | Philadelphia International 3644  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
1981  | "Easy Money"
b/w "I Love You Anyway" | Philadelphia International 70058  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | Dee Dee
"Breaking and Entering"  | Philadelphia International 02041  | —  | —  | 1  | —  | —
"I Love You Anyway"  | —  | 79  | —  | —  | —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

## See also

[edit]

* List of artists who reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart
* List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart
* List of disco artists (A–E)
* List of people from Philadelphia
* List of acts who appeared on American Bandstand

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g Hamilton, Andrew. "Dee Dee Sharp Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved April 14, 2009.
2. ^ a b c d Lloyd, Jack (February 22, 1981). "Her music makes them feel like dancing—again". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 136. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
3. ^ a b c d "Gary James' Interview With Dee Dee Sharp". www.classicbands.com. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
4. ^ a b c "Dee Dee Sharp – Artist Profile". eventseeker.com. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
5. ^ a b c Charleston, Rita (May 3, 2019). "Singer DeeDee Sharp recalls early days in Philly as an 'overnight sensation'". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
6. ^ Bacas, Harry (March 23, 1962). "Dee Dee Sharp's "Mashed Potato Time" Is a Mixture of an Old Song and Dance". Evening star. p. 79. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
7. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 152. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
8. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 494\. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
9. ^ a b Smith, Danyel (February 14, 2023). Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop. Random House Publishing Group. p. 35\. ISBN 978-0-593-13273-9.
10. ^ Condor, Bob (September 3, 1996). "A Real Knockout". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
11. ^ a b c Fernandez, Bernard (September 3, 1996). "It's not the greatest, but Ali documentary packs punch". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 55. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
12. ^ Staff. "For Dee Dee Sharp, a good life moves on", The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 24, 2008. Accessed October 24, 2011. "Over the next 20 years, that spotlight would shine on a career that took her around the world and finally back to Medford, NJ, where she spends most of her time keeping house for her husband, attorney Bill Witherspoon."
13. ^ Sharp, Dee Dee. "Sharp is bestowed a Lifetime Achievement Award". Artists Music Guild. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
14. ^ a b c d e "Dee Dee Sharp – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
15. ^ "CHUM Hit Parade results". Archived from the original on July 17, 2006.
16. ^ "RPM Play Sheet - December 20, 1965" (PDF).
17. ^ "DEE DEE SHARP – full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
18. ^ "CHUM Hit Parade - April 16, 1962".

## External links

[edit]

* Philadelphia portal

* Official website

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Spain
* Israel
* Finland

Artists|

* MusicBrainz